LH Independent 12-24-20 by The Liberty Hill Independent

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LETTERS TO SANTA - PAGE B3 Volume 34, Issue 5

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2020

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December 24, 2020 | 50 Cents

On your Liberty Hill holiday light tour, be sure to visit the ‘island of misﬁt decorations’

Todd Washburn was recently appointed Asst. Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and School Leadership. (Courtesy Photo)

LHISD welcomes new Asst. Superintendent

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Todd Washburn has been the places Liberty Hill is going. He understands where Liberty Hill has come from, and more importantly, has experienced the changes happening fast in his new school district. Washburn joins Liberty Hill ISD as the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and School Leadership, and is thrilled by the opportunity he sees ahead. “Liberty Hill really excited me because it really reminded me of Leander about 25 years ago,” he said. “I had a great experience there, spending 20 years of my 30-year career there. I grew as an educator and administrator in a fast-growth district and was really drawn to that in Liberty Hill. This is a great school district with really strong administration. I felt like my experience was just a great match for Liberty Hill.” After receiving 61 applications for the assistant superintendent position, the district interviewed six applicants. Following interviews and background checks, Superintendent Steve Snell recommended to the School Board to hire Washburn. “Mr. Washburn brings a wealth of experience from fast growth and high performing school districts,” said Snell. Originally from the Midwest, Washburn spent the last 25 years in Central Texas. “I went to a really small school in a small town,” Washburn said. “I am really drawn to that kind of community. My wife and I got married and moved from Ohio to El Paso, and started in a small school district just outside of El Paso.” They moved to Central Texas and landed in Leander, back before Leander ISD was busting at the seams. “When we started in Leander it was a small town,” Washburn said. “They had one high school, a middle school and four elementary schools, and we really just loved that small

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Throughout the Stonewall subdivision in Liberty Hill, a ﬂood of homes covered head to toe in Christmas lights and decorations sparkle in all their glory. One house, however, stands out from the pack, surely noticeable from space for all its brightness and cheer. The display of Christmas spirit at 108 Rhinestone Cove can only be described as a winter festival shrunken down and stuffed into one front yard. Eye-catching, to say the least, the senses are overwhelmed, not knowing what to focus on. For these

See LIGHTS, Page A3

ANTHONY FLORES PHOTO

Sara Brown Flemming’s Christmas display, at 108 Rhinestone Cove, was named the winner of The Liberty Hill Independent’s 2020 Home Decoration Contest.

What’s the deal with fruitcake?

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer Doing a Google search on the word fruitcake brings up more than a few amusing results, notably in the “people also ask” section. The top two questions are, “Is fruitcake good?” and “What’s the deal with fruitcake?” The infamous holiday dessert has proved to be a divisive topic for decades, even stirring a variety of reactions and emotions here in Liberty Hill. The history of the fruitcake dates as far back as ancient Roman times, with a simple recipe of pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins mixed into a cake made out of barley mash. As time moved

forward, the basic recipe changed and adapted region by region. In Australia and Bulgaria, fruitcake is a year-round delicacy. In Ireland, it’s commonly eaten during their Halloween season. Here in the U.S, fruitcake is a staple at Christmas. Liberty Hill resident Stacey Gately is pro fruitcake, sharing a sentimental connection with it. “I love fruitcake. It reminds me of my great-grandmother,” said Gately. “She always brought fruitcake with rum. There are so many memories. I love it to this day. I like the candied fruit, and the nuts and the whole top layer is amazing.” Debbie Vinson Harrison

doesn’t mince words when making her feelings clear on the cake. “I hate it, and it goes straight in the trash,” said Harrison. “When I was young, I ate some of the candied fruit and vomited for days.” In Corsicana, Collin Street Bakery has been serving up and shipping out fruitcakes to all 50 states and 196 countries since 1896. For Tim Anderson, this is his source for the best fruitcake. “I grew up in Dallas-Fort Worth, and my folks would get one from Collin Street Bakery. I was totally just meh on it growing up. Then 15 years or so ago, I moved out of Texas and lived all over the Liberty Hill resident Bobbie Fuller Byerly makes a no-bake version of fruitcake that is easy to make and satisﬁes that urge for See FRUITCAKE, Page A5 lovers of the holiday tradition. (Courtesy Photo)

BUSINESS

Farm to Fork headed to town

Former Hobo Junction undergong major facelift

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer A familiar location in town will be home to a new restaurant in early 2021. Formerly the home of Hobo Junction, Farm to Fork is slated to open its second location in the same building, once renovations are complete. Since purchasing the Hobo Junction building in late 2017, Anderson Price, president of Life Long Property Management, has been excited to see what the restaurant’s potential is. “We have bought several retail buildings in Liberty Hill, and when we saw Hobo Junction for sale, I talked to my partner,” he said. “We wanted to preserve the funky, old aspect of the place. We didn’t want to tear it down and put a Taco Bell there, which would have been the easy thing to do, but we wanted to

keep what was unique about the restaurant. We wanted to keep that little piece of Liberty Hill there.” Improvements to the restaurant started in mid-2018, when former owner Nacona McDowell was still there running Hobo Junction. But because of the building’s condition and lack of insurance approval, the restaurant was closed in March 2020. McDowell had talked with Price about remodeling the building, but over time, and after opening the Junction Café in Bertram, she decided to dedicate more time to that location and move on from Liberty Hill. That’s when Farm to Fork came into the picture, Price said. “We’re talking with Amy Schaffner, who runs Farm to Fork in Leander,” he said. “It’s a delicious place. I happened to be eating there and I

While a major remodel is taking place at the former Hobo Junction restaurant, including a raised ceiling and roof, new windows and a brand new kitchen, original aspects of the building will remain, such as the murals. brought it up with the owners working on the ﬁnal lease similar to the food that has that we were in the process of terms as well as kitchen design been served at Hobo Junction remodeling this building and and associated costs, and then over the years,” Price said. “It our current tenant wasn’t inter- his hope is to announce that made sense to have another ested in continuing to operate, Farm to Fork will be the new chef with ties to the area servand they were excited.” tenant. ing a similar type of fare.” Price said the lease is not a “Amy grew up eating at Hobo “done deal” yet, but they are Junction, and her food is very See RESTAURANT, Page A4

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A PROPOSED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS, AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 17

The City Council of Liberty Hill, Texas (“City”) will conduct two public hearings on a proposed Strategic Partnership Agreement (“SPA”) between the City and Williamson County Municipal Utility District No. 17 (“District”). The territory of the District includes that certain 493.87-acre tract of land (the “Property”) generally located east and west of Ronald Reagan Blvd. north of Highway 29 in the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The public hearings will be in the City’s Council Chambers located at 2801 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas. The first public hearing is set to convene at 6:30 p.m. on January 11, 2021. The second public hearing is set to convene at 6:30 p.m. on January 25, 2021. The purpose of each hearing is to provide an opportunity for interested persons to present testimony or evidence regarding the proposed agreement. Under the proposed SPA, the territory of the District would be annexed for limited purposes as soon as practicable. The District would continue to possess and exercise powers and functions provided by law. The City would not annex the District for full municipal purposes during the 30-year term of the SPA. The SPA contains other provisions, and it would bind each owner and future owner of land included within the territory of the District on the date the SPA becomes effective. Copies of the proposed SPA (including a metes-and-bounds description of the territory of the District) may be obtained prior to the hearing from the office of the City Secretary on the first floor of the City Hall located at 926 Loop 332, Liberty Hill, Texas. Due to COVID-19, prior pick-up arrangements will need to be made by calling City Hall at (512) 778-5449 or emailing Nancy Sawyer at nsawyer@libertyhilltx.gov.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Free Christmas Tree recycling at WilCo landﬁll

Starting Dec. 26, residents can dispose of their Christmas trees for free by dropping them off at the Williamson County Landﬁll, located at 600 Landﬁll Road in Hutto. Residents have until Jan. 19,

2021, to get rid of their trees at the landﬁll. Before taking a tree, residents are asked to remove all lights and ornaments. Flocked trees are not accepted for recycling. The landﬁll is open Monday

to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. The landﬁll is closed on Sundays and will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

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PUBLIC NOTICES 2nd REVISED LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Liberty Hill has been asked to review and approve the following application(s), to wit: A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the High Density Residential (SF3) zoning classification to the Multi-family Residential (MF2) zoning classification on the following property: 15.67 acres out of the J.M. Glasscock Survey, ABS 254, Williamson County, Texas; specifically 3607 Ranch-toMarket Road (RM) 1869, generally located along the south side of RM 1869, between Taylor Smith and Barton Drives, and identified as Assessor’s Parcels Number R-392551 (14.67 ac.) and R-022214 (1.00 ac.).

***** AND ***** A request for a Zone Map Amendment from the General Commercial / Retail (C-3) zoning classification to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) classification on the following property: A portion of Lot 1, Replat of Quiktrip No. 4156 Addition, Liberty Hill, Williamson County, Texas; located at 14010 State Highway 29, generally located along the north side of State Highway 29, approximately 555.0 feet west of County Road 214, and identified as Assessor’s Parcel Number R-582722. In accordance with Section 211.006, Texas Local Government Code, the City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider and take final action on these matters on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 6:30 PM. The public hearings will take place at the Municipal Court Building, Council Chambers, 2801 RM 1869 in Liberty Hill, Texas. For more information, you may either visit the Development Services Department at 100 Forrest Street, call (512) 778-5449, or send an email to planning@libertyhilltx.gov. By order of the Development Services Director on December 21, 2020. (12/24) LIBERTY HILL ISD IS SEEKING Responses for Professional Construction Ser-

vices. All interested Responders please see RFQ #21-002 available at www.libertyhill. txed.net click Departments Business Ofﬁce - Purchasing - Current Bid Opportunities or request a copy by emailing: proposals@libertyhill.txed. net. (12/24) MISSING PROPERTY If you believe the police department may have a found item that belongs to you, you can call the Property Division directly at 512-548-5530 or email at ekrause@libertyhilltx.gov. When contacting the Property Division, describe the item(s) you are looking for, in detail, and we will let you know if we have it. If we do, we will make arrangements to get it back to you. (12/31)

LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Wholesaler’s Permit by De Amor Tequila dba Amorada, to be located at 706 Leander Drive #801, Leander, Williamson County, Texas. Ofﬁcers of said LLC are Terray Glasman (owner).

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OPINION Throwback Thursday

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, December 24, 2020 Section A Page 3

EDITORIAL:

Merry Christmas Baptist preacher paved way for Andice community from The Independent

By JAMES WEAR Columnist Race relations have certainly been in the news over the past year, and that’s nothing new, as, back when the Andice community was coming together in the mid-1800s, a Baptist preacher took an unpopular stance at the time as he spoke out against slavery. According to a historical narrative by the late Jimmie Asher found at Williamson-County-Texas-History.org, “In 1850 Rev. Freeman Smalley, Sr., visited the Andice community and preached the first Baptist sermon in this area. The service was held in the home of a Mr. Barton. The home was located on the south side of the Will Howland estate. During the following year Rev. Josiah Andrews from Arkansas became the first pastor of the Baptist congregation.” According to James Milton Carroll’s book, A History of Texas Baptists, Rev. Smalley’s grandfather, William M. Smalley, was born in France in 1697 and came to America in 1732, settling in an area today known as the state of Ohio where he was killed by Indians while plowing a field. Rev. Smalley’s father, William, was

LIGHTS

captured twice by Indians. The first time he spent seven years in captivity before escaping. The second time, while on a government mission, he was among three men captured. The other two men were killed and scalped, with William forced to hold the scalps over an open fire until they were completely dry. He managed to escape two years later. Rev. Smalley was born in 1791 in what would later become Ohio. After reaching manhood, he became an ordained Baptist preacher and married. He enlisted in the Army and would participate in the War of 1812. He would spend 24 years preaching in Ohio before moving on to Illinois where he spent 15 years. During this time Rev. Smalley became opposed to slavery and brought that belief to Texas where he spent, beginning in 1848, the next 18 years preaching. It was not his first trip to Texas. Twenty-five years earlier he had traveled to Texas, alone and on foot, to find the whereabouts of a missing sister. His mission was successful and he returned to Ohio, but it appears something about Texas caught his interest and thus led him back years later. According to information published on the Texas State Historical Association’s website, “About 1832 he moved his family from Ohio to Higginsville, Illinois, where he

Continued from Page A1

reasons and more, the home won the title of 2020 Liberty Hill Independent Holiday Home Decoration Champion. Walking through a tunnel of light, visitors see a working ferris wheel, a spinning swing set, elves on a see-saw, a nativity scene, Bevo the Longhorn mascot, everyone’s favorite talking dog Scooby-Doo, Yoda, a series of brightly colored Christmas trees, and even an infamous emoji at the very front of the scene. These are just a few of the standout decorations. It’s taken Sara Brown Flemming close to six years to collect all of the decorations she spends hours setting up each year. To Flemming, this is her Island of Misﬁt Decorations. “I still don’t have everything up. Eventually, we run out of time,” said Flemming. “We started around Halloween. We start pulling the lights out and testing them. We work a few weeks just getting the lights out. We used to drink eggnog and start the day after Thanksgiving, but it’s gotten so big that it just doesn’t work

anymore. We started putting things out the week before Thanksgiving.” It’s a thrill for Flemming to watch folks look through the display and discover decorations they didn’t notice at ﬁrst. “I get to see people driving by and see the faces of the kids. I’ll stop them and ask them what was their favorite part,” said Flemming. “My neighbor said the other day that they thought there might be even more stuff out than before. I told them to look at it as a game. You never know what you’re going to ﬁnd here.” To the uninformed eye, this collection of unique decorations may appear random. For Flemming, each holds a significant meaning. “My oldest son is 23, and to this day, he still loves Scooby-Doo, and for Halloween, he was Shaggy. That’s my little ode to him,” said Flemming. “My youngest loves Star Wars, and we put Yoda out there. Without knowing, we kind of faced him toward baby Jesus, and now it’s like Yoda and Scooby are presenting gifts to

The Rev. Freeman Smalley left his mark on the Central Texas area. (Courtesy Photo) established a Baptist church in his home in 1834. His son Freeman Smalley, Jr., moved to Brushy Creek, south of the site of present-day Round Rock, Texas, in 1846; Smalley sold his land and followed him to Texas about 1848. Smalley preached wherever he could, but his audiences were small because of his abolitionist views. He organized Union Baptist Church in Williamson County, the ﬁrst antislavery Baptist church in Texas, in 1849. He took a Unionist stand during the Civil War and endured threats and robbery. At the request of his children he sold his land in Texas and

moved to Bourbon County, Kansas, with two of his sons in 1866. Smalley died on October 31, 1874, and was buried in Bourbon County, Kansas.” The youngest son of Rev. and Mrs. Smalley, William Anderson Montgomery Smalley, is buried at the Andice Cemetery. Rev. Smalley’s preaching in the Andice area was an important factor in the formation of the Andice church. According to a historical narrative written by Mary Louise-Wade that can be found on the Andice Baptist Church’s website, “Our church was organized as a result of this.”

baby Jesus.” The colors of each of the Christmas trees in the display signify something different to Flemming. The red tree serves as a representation of her faith, the pink shows her strength as a breast cancer survivor. The red, white, and blue is her love for her country and those who defend it. The purple and gold tree shows her pride in her community, and her burnt orange tree? Well, that’s just her being a good Longhorn fan. During a typical year, unaffected by a pandemic, Flemming would offer viewers the chance to interact with some aspects of the display.

“That red tree there, what we want to do is make it a prayer tree where we put ornaments in a bucket by the tree. Because of COVID, we have to try and make it as safe as possible,” said Flemming. “We want people to come and write the name of someone they want to pray for and hang it on the tree.” Many of the decorations on the yard – the Christmas trees as an example – are re-purposed decorations. “Each year, we would drive around during garbage day after Christmas, and we still do that to this day,” said Flemming. “You’d be amazed how much of my yard is the stuff

At The Independent, we hope you are sitting back and relaxing as you read this, enjoying a comfortable, safe, beautiful Christmas holiday. This year has not been the easiest, and one many of us tend to find ourselves hoping will just end so we can move on to a future with fewer worries and less stress. But this is a wonderful opportunity for us to reset, and remember who and what are truly important. All of the craziness of the pre-holiday schedule – with events, shopping, commitments and cooking, are behind you and you can now slow down long enough to let what is truly special about the holiday soak in. Sometimes it takes a child to remind us of this particular joy of Christmas, whether it be the simple thrill of filtering through their lengthy wish lists, or seeing the purity of their giving, loving spirit. This week’s edition includes our annual tradition of packing the paper full of letters to Santa Claus, providing a sometimes hysterical, often heartwarming glimpse into the season through the eyes of a child. They all have big wishes, and we would have it no other way. They butter Santa Claus up, then let him know they want video games, puppies, action figures, dolls and more.

that other people have put out. People throw away their Christmas trees, and I just spray paint them. Each year I try and create a new tree.” Flemming doesn’t mind the increased electric bill that comes with a display of this caliber. This is a service from the heart for the self-appointed Christmas fanatic. “This is our small gift to the community,” said Flemming.

The letters to Santa become a moment of truth, as they admit their transgressions from the past year, make their case, and plead for leniency when it comes to placement on the good or bad list. Hopefully, their dreams came true and the little ones in your life are enjoying Christmas Day. At a time when our children can be their most selﬁsh, many are quick to show their thoughtful side and wish for something for someone else. This reminds us that what we spend all our time trying to teach them really does sink in now and again. In this time of year when it becomes easy to be wrapped up in the commercial side of the holiday, even our children can remind us that it is the giving that is most important. Spend this holiday enjoying the gift of your family. Give thanks for their health and safety and the chance to hug them every day. Be thankful for all the blessings in your lives, even in the face of many hardships we all have in common. Remember, the meaning of the season goes much deeper and is far more important than what comes wrapped in paper under the tree. All of us at your hometown newspaper wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, and hope it is a memorable and safe holiday.

“Normally, we set up Santa in the front yard and let people come and take pictures. We have cookies and hot chocolate. We collect donations and then give them to a cause. The act of giving provides so much healing within us.”

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

WASHBURN

Continued from Page A1

town feel, but also loved the excitement of the growth that happens in small districts.â&#x20AC;? Twenty years in Leander ISD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from 1995 to 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; gave Washburn a hand in helping the district grow from 10,000 to 36,000 students. After 2015 he moved on to a stint in Eanes ISD before taking on his new role in Liberty Hill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a part of that fastgrowth district where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re opening a new campus almost every school year,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the extracurricular programs and Liberty Hill excels in those. You have that community feel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and with COVID itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little different â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but you have that community spirit and community vibe. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an exciting time to be a part of this district.â&#x20AC;? In his career, Washburn has had a hand in it all, from opening a middle school as a principal, being involved in many bond committees and attendance boundary committees. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a classroom teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, district administrator and most recently he served one year as Superintendent of Dripping Springs ISD. No matter the position, it all points back to that beginning in a classroom, and Washburn knows no matter what the role,

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about the education provided to students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special opportunity for me, especially as I started reďŹ&#x201A;ecting back on my ďŹ rst years in the classroom,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was in a very small district and it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really have a curriculum department per se, so really each teacher â&#x20AC;&#x201C; working with their colleagues â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was responsible for coming up with ďŹ nding resources and developing their curriculum. I see this opportunity as really being able to support our teachers and help provide them with resources.â&#x20AC;? Times change, technology changes, and while technology offers great new opportunities, the support for teachers is as critical as ever. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being able to work very closely with campus administrators, mentor them and support them is very appealing to me,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teaching today is vastly different than when I started 30 years ago. I go back to even thinking when I started teaching we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have phones in our classrooms, let alone computers and e-mail and things. Obviously education has evolved since then.â&#x20AC;? Liberty Hill has a strong curriculum and systems in place, but Washburn knows that is ever-changing.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Curriculum is one of those things that continually evolves and is redesigned,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is never a ďŹ nished product because you always want to get feedback from teachers on what is working, what can we improve, what additional resources we need. I see it as a passion but a calling for me. I get energized when I have the opportunity to go into classrooms and see the connections our teachers make with their students.â&#x20AC;? His wife, Beth, is also an educator, and they have two grown sons, TJ and Zac. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Kent State University, a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in educational administration, and his superintendentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certiďŹ cation from Southwest Texas State University. The next step for Washburn is what he calls one of the most important parts of his new role, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship building. Those relationships are key to meeting that end goal, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s providing a strong education for students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love kids. I love working with teachers,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have a passion for education and I really want to provide the support and resources for our students and staff to be successful.â&#x20AC;?

RESTAURANT The remodeling process has taken much longer than initially expected, Price said, adding that the coronavirus pandemic added another layer to an already difďŹ cult permitting process. The permit for the building was submitted in January 2019 and was not approved until July 2020. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were trying to get a permit from the City [of Liberty Hill] for over a year, and it was extremely difďŹ cult to get that done,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hobo Junction was in a historical building, and it has a certain amount of character we want to preserve. However, if you have to abide by every single new rule created since these buildings were done, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to save those buildings. The costs of abiding by those rulesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re better off tearing the building down.â&#x20AC;? Price added that the contractor and his team are working as quickly as they can on the project, but with delays of materials due to the coronavirus and working within the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rules, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slowed the process signiďŹ cantly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done as good a job as we can to abide by the rules but also keep the original character of that building,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would have been

Thursday, December 24, 2020

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cheaper to tear the building down, but we wanted to preserve the artwork on the interior and exterior, because those murals are a part of Liberty Hill, and we did what we could to keep the memory of Hobo Junction alive.â&#x20AC;? Price said a name change to the restaurant is up to Schaffner, but that the menu will change to focus more on scratch-style cooking, which is what Farm to Fork is known for. The kitchen Hobo Junction staff was working with was not great, Price said, adding that it was small, and there was not enough room for storage, staff or equipment. The kitchen is now three times the size, has all new equipment, and provides a much better facility to put out higher quality and more food, Price added. Once the kitchen design is ďŹ nished, the next steps will be plumbing and electrical, followed by drywall and carpentry. All new windows were recently installed, the ceiling was raised, and major improvements were made to the AC unit and bathrooms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are hopeful to have everything done by end of the ďŹ rst quarter of 2021 and open then,â&#x20AC;? he said.

If the City allows it, Price said he also hopes to put in outdoor seating, with picnic tables along the tree line parallel to the railroad tracks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to do drink and appetizer service outside, and create a really family-friendly environment,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tentative plans include adding a playground, so if you go, you can sit outside and order nachos and beer and watch your kids play. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something Liberty Hill will beneďŹ t from, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of place people like to go. All of that will be dictated by what the City of Liberty Hill and local ďŹ re ofďŹ cials allow us to do.â&#x20AC;? Price said ultimately, he is looking forward to giving Hobo Junction the facelift it needs while keeping it a part of the community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We put in retail strip centers and those are great, but a brand-new retail strip center never has the character of an old restaurant going back 75 years that most people who live in Liberty Hill went to when they were kids,â&#x20AC;? Price said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we did our best to keep its character. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a brand-new restaurant, just a better version of what was already there.â&#x20AC;?

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Thursday, December 24, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Community shares recipes for the holiday

Liberty Hill is not short on unique holiday delectables. Liberty Hill High School alum, and former member of the high school culinary arts program, Noelia Hernandez bakes a traditional, homemade chocolate chip cookie. “I have only been baking for others for about a year now. However, I have been baking at home a bit longer. When I started baking, I wanted to make something everyone would love instantly,” said Hernandez. “That’s exactly the response I got from these chocolate chip cookies. Unlike other recipes, these do not have to chill in the fridge before baking. That’s my favorite part. If you make these for Santa and your elf, they may never leave. That’s how good they are. I know our elf loves them.” Malted Grains Chef Michael Biggs shared one of his favorite cookies from his youth that his mother still makes every Christmas. “My mom is German. She spends like the end of November through Christmas baking cookies,” said Biggs. “She has a ton of different recipes, and a lot of them aren’t overly sweet. My mom is all about tradition.” One cookie, in particular, sets off the Christmas signals for Biggs. His mother’s pecan ﬁngers. “She would make what we called pecan sandies, but they were like a crescent moon. When I think of Christmas, those are the ones I think of,” he said. Itzel Rios is using her homemade empanadas to share a small but signiﬁcant piece of her childhood. “Growing up in a household of 14 wasn’t easy. My mom

was very good at making food go a long way,” said Rios. “One of my favorite recipes was her delicious empanadas. I remember as if it was yesterday, that wonderful smell of homemade empanadas. She would make pumpkin, pineapple, and strawberry. She would show me how to make the dents with my ﬁngers.” Coming from a close family, Rios uses her baking during the holidays as a chance to bond with her kids. “Now I make milk candy with pecans and coconut empanadas,” said Rios. “I now have passed the recipe down to my daughter, so when she grows up, she can make them for her family and pass the recipe along. They are a lot of work, but the reward of eating them certainly pays off.”

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds to barely melt it. It shouldn’t be hot, but it should be almost entirely in liquid form. Using a mixer, beat the butter with both sugars until creamy. Add vanilla and egg; beat on low speed until just incorporated – 10-15 seconds. Add ﬂour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until crumbles form. Use your hands to press the crumbles together into a dough. It should form one large ball that is easy to handle. Add the chocolate chips. Roll the dough into 12 large balls and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the cookies look puffy and dry and just barely golden. Do not overbake. Let them cool on the pan for 30 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies by Noelia Hernandez 8 T of salted butter 1/2 cup white sugar (I like to use a special sugar that I must keep secret but any white sugar works.) 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 egg 1 1/2 cups all-purpose ﬂour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup chocolate chips (I use a combination of chocolate chips)

Pecan Fingers by Chef Michael Biggs 1 cup butter at room temperature 2 tsp water 2 cup flour 1/3 cup sugar 2 tsp vanilla 1 cup finely chopped pecans Cream butter and sugar and add water and vanilla, then flour and nuts. Chill 4 hours and roll into balls, then flatten or roll into pinky-size pieces. Bake at 325-350 degrees for 20 minutes, cool completely, then roll in powdered sugar.

Milk Candy Empanadas by Itzel Rios 5 cups flour 2 cups vegetable shortening ¾ cups Mexican Coca-Cola 2 cans Lechera Milk Candy 2 egg yolks pecan pieces shredded coconut jelly (whatever you prefer) cinnamon and sugar (optional) In a bowl, combine flour and shortening. Start adding the Mexican Coca-Cola in small amounts and keep mixing. Knead the mix until smooth. Let it rest inside a bag for 30 minutes. In a bowl, pour two cans of Lechera Milk Candy, two egg yolks, shredded coconut, and pecan pieces, and mix well. After the flour mix has rested, take it out and make 2-inch balls. Press the dough or roll it out. Preheat oven to 325. Press one of them once in a round shape. Put a spoonful of the filling and fold them and close them up. Place them on baking sheets and put them in the oven for about 20 minutes on each side. You can add cinnamon and sugar and coat them when they are coming out of the oven.

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FRUITCAKE Continued from Page A1 country,” he said. “It was after moving out of Texas, come Christmastime, I kind of had this desire to have a little bit of Texas at Christmas. They are easy enough to order and ship anywhere, so it almost came more symbolic than anything, albeit I did develop a fond taste for it.” Liberty Hill Junior High Principal Travis Motal is on the side of the fruitcake, but not for the reasons one would assume. “Yes, I am for fruit cake because it reminds me of just how much I love all the other desserts more,” said Motal. Liberty Hill Elementary Principal Heather Collison has a different idea of why she might like fruitcake. “This may sound a little strange, but I have never had the opportunity to try fruit cake,” said Collison. “I love cake and fruit; my guess is I would enjoy a piece of fruit cake.” Siding against the fruitcake, Santa Rita Elementary Principal Kristine Kline has a better alternative. “Fruitcake was a tradition in my family that ended with me,” said Kline. “Sugar cookies and pumpkin pie. Now that’s the way to go.” Diane Brown isn’t a fan of the fruitcake. She has a creative alternative use for it, along with an interesting conspiracy theory. “I don’t care for them. My father loved them. When I receive one now, it is used as a seasonal doorstop,” she said. “I’ve also heard that there is really only one fruitcake, and it has made its way around the world, visiting each home at least once since its inception.” In Melanie Ledesma’s household, the feelings on the holiday staple go both ways.

“My husband loves it. Looks forward to having one every year,” Ledesma said. “We have a friend that makes one for him every year. I just can’t make myself like it. Just too many weird chewy flavors.” As it stands, the sentiment towards fruitcake seems to be split almost evenly down the middle. People either love it or hate it with no room in between. With its history stretching back close to 2,000 years, it’s safe to say the fruitcake debate is here to stay. Grandma Adams’ Icebox Fruitcake Liberty Hill Resident Bobbie Fuller Byerly reached into her family recipes to share her Icebox Fruitcake. An easy nobake version of the traditional fruitcake. “I am the food historian of the family. Each recipe comes from a loved one, and when I make these dishes, the memory of them comes to life,” said Byerly. “The recipes are the family history written by generations of great cooks.” Byerly feels this is the perfect version of the fruitcake to share because of the simplicity and ease in making it. “Crumble wafers finely, add in the rest and mix thoroughly, add more wafer crumbles if too sticky. Press into a buttered loaf pan and pack down tightly. Cover in foil and leave in the refrigerator for at least a day,” said Byerly. “I form it into a log on a piece of wax paper and roll it until it resembles a log. Then I just put it into the refrigerator and slice as needed.” 1 can condensed milk 1 lg package of Vanilla Wafers ½ box (8oz) raisins 2 tbsp rum or rum flavoring 1 tbsp vanilla

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Thursday, December 24, 2020

SPORTS

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, December 24, 2020 Section B Page 1

Raiders up next for Panthers

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor After shutting down a potent Boerne Champion passing game in its 41-0 second-round playoff victory against the Chargers on Dec. 18, Liberty Hill’s defense will face an even more powerful opponent in its third-round postseason matchup with Rouse in Round Rock on Dec. 26. Panthers interim head coach Kent Walker’s defensive unit hasn’t allowed even a single point in posting seven straight shutouts, not letting the opposition score since a last-minute touchdown by Del Valle in a 44-27 road win over the Cardinals on Oct. 2. Walker certainly knows what he and his entire team is up against. “(Rouse Head) Coach Mann does a great job over there and it should be a really good football game,” he said. “They’re explosive on offense and they’ve got a really good defense, as well.” The Raiders, who currently boast a 10-1 record, after winning District 13 with a perfect 7-0 mark, are led by sophomore signal-caller Mason Shorb, who put up eye-popping numbers this season under center, completing 153-of233 passes for 2,692 yards to

go with 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Shorb is a classic pocket passer who spreads the ball around to a variety of receivers, including senior wideout Drew Henson, who has caught 50 passes for 802 yards and eight touchdowns, although Troy Oliver leads the Raiders in both receiving yards (924) and receiving touchdowns (11), tied for the team lead with Jalen Becerra, who is averaging a squad-best 21 yards per reception. However, Rouse can also beat opponents on the ground, with junior EJ Moore leading the Raiders’ rushing attack, with 1,133 yards on 172 carries and a team-leading 12 touchdowns. “They have a really good quarterback, a really good running back and some receivers they spread the ball around to – they’re a very well-balanced football team,” said Walker. So, the game sizes up to be a classic high-powered offense vs. dominant defense showdown and at the tip of the Liberty Hill spear is junior linebacker Andon Thomas, whose 10 tackles against Champion led the Panthers. Thomas said the further he and his teammates venture into the postseason, the more

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor CEDAR PARK -- The last time the Panthers stood on the sidelines at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, they were on the visitors’ side, absorbing a devastating season-ending playoff loss to Lampasas. Fast-forward over a year and this time the Purple-and-Gold found itself on the opposite side of both the field and the score in a 41-0 defeat of Boerne Champion in a Class 5A second-round playoff contest on Friday night. Blake Simpson carried the ball 15 times for 184 yards, as the Panthers racked up a season-high 521 yards in all on the ground, including nine rushes for 114 yards and two touchdowns for quarterback Charlie Calabretta on the evening. However, the story of the game was yet another exquisite display by the Liberty Hill defense, who kept a potent Chargers offense listless throughout in posting its seventh consecutive shutout. Once again, junior linebacker Andon Thomas led the way for the Purple Reign and said another zero on the scoreboard is simply what he and his defensive mates strive for every time they take the field. “It’s the goal for every game,” he said. “We just have to perform and I felt we performed really well, executed as well as you could and I’m just proud of all my guys on defense.” As far as the Panthers’ offense went, it certainly didn’t take very long for Calabretta and company to get clicking. After Champion received the kickoff and were forced into a 3-and-out by the Liberty Hill defense, the offense took over for the first time at its own 29-yard line and that’s when Simpson went to work, taking a handoff and rumbling

58 yards down the left sideline on the Panthers’ first play from scrimmage of the evening, all the way down to the Champion 12-yard line. Fellow senior running back Trey Seward scored on a 12yard run two plays later and Liberty Hill quickly had a 7-0 advantage with only 1:36 having elapsed since the kickoff. Surprisingly, those were the only points put on the board the entire opening period, as the Chargers and junior quarterback Karson Kaiser failed to generate any rhythm on offense early on, until they managed to mount a 10-play drive across midfield into Liberty Hill territory before Kaiser looked long down the left sideline on a 2nd-and-10 from the Panthers’ 29, only for the pass to be intercepted by senior Bryce Rampy, giving the ball back to Liberty Hill’s offense. After a rare 3-and-out by the Panthers’ offense, Champion got the ball back and after Kaiser completed a 15-yard pass to wideout Ryan Brandon, the sky fell for the signal-caller, as he was brought down behind the line by Thomas and defensive lineman Lloyd Johnson for a 2-yard loss, then threw incomplete on the next play before Johnson once again brought the hammer down with a hit on him as he was getting a third-down pass away, resulting in an incompletion and another Chargers punt. Liberty Hill then embarked on one of its classic, time-using, distance-gaining drives, moving the ball from its own 47 down to the Champion 15, where Ethan Minix split the uprights with a field goal and a seeming 10-0 lead. But, not so fast. Champion had jumped offside on the kick, which awarded the Panthers with a 1stand-goal from the 10 before

they will need to amplify the effort in getting ready for each contest. “The intensity in practice has just kept us going,” he said. “We just need to pick it up even more next week and keep on going.” Junior defensive lineman Lloyd Johnson has been a menace to opposing offenses all season and as the games have gotten bigger, so has his game, including a sack of Champion quarterback Karson Kaiser, along with three hurries of the Chargers’ quarterback to go with three tackles on the contest. Against Champion, the Liberty Hill defensive secondary also came up with the goods on a pair of interceptions – one each by senior Bryce Rampy and another by Carter Hudson, all part of a downfield shutdown which included six passes defended, a number bested only by the eight against Del Valle earlier in the campaign. Although much of the recent spotlight has shone on the Panthers’ defense, the Liberty Hill offense has continued to crank out yards as if hashmarks are going out of style. Against Champion, the Panthers ground out a season-high 521 rushing yards, led by senior Blake Simpson, who

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Defensive lineman Lloyd Johnson (#17) collected a sack, three hurries and three tackles in the Panthers’ 41-0 second-round playoff victory over Boerne Champion in Dec. 11 at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park. gained 184 yards on 15 carries starting fullback Eric De La the Raiders – although after – a hefty 12.3-yard average – Cruz, who will return to the shutting down Champion, the and a touchdown, including lineup after missing the past Purple Reign is gaining more a 59-yard sprint on Liberty two games due to quarantine. and more momentum moving Hill’s first offensive play from Rouse is coming off a 57- forward – and complacency is 28 victory over Mercedes in simply not an option. scrimmage. “Sure, it definitely gives our Simpson is now the Panthers’ the second round, a contest leading rusher, with 1,182 in which Shorb was 11-of-13 defense a little bit of confiyards on 116 carries and 17 for 307 yards and four touch- dence,” he said. “But we try to touchdowns, passing fellow downs and Moore rushed for preach to our kids all the time senior Trey Seward, who has 155 yards on 23 carries, while we’ve got to get better every 1,175 yards on 130 attempts Oliver caught four passes for day – we have to be better next and 17 touchdowns on the sea- 134 yards and a pair of scores. week than we were this week son. So, Walker knows his defense – we have to be better at pracAn added boost will be pro- will have its work cut out for tice on Monday than we were vided by the return of senior it when they line up against tonight.”

Panthers pound Chargers, advance in playoffs

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Charlie Calabretta (#4) rushed nine times for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns during the Panthers’ 41-0 second-round playoff victory over Boerne Champion on Dec. 18. Simpson pounded his way in haul, which brought the score Amsler continued to do yeoman’s work in the absence from a yard out two plays later to 24-0 at the half. On the first play of the drive of senior fullback Eric De La and a 14-0 lead. Usually taking points off the leading up to Minix’ kick, Ca- Cruz, who missed his second board is coaching cardinal sin, labretta took the snap, tucked straight contest due to a quarbut Liberty Hill interim head the ball under his arm and antine. “Noah did a great job for us coach Kent Walker said the raced 64 yards down the near decision was based on keeping sideline on a keeper, cutting – he just has so much speed,” the ball away from the Cham- the ball back once he got in- said Walker. “Both him and pion offense that much longer. side the 10, only to finally be Bryant are all about the team.” Liberty Hill received the “As a defensive coach, you chased down by Champion ball to begin the second half want time to tick off the clock defenders. when you’re dealing with such Included in the onslaught – in of play and wasted no time in an explosive offense,” he said. addition to Simpson’s score on adding to its already dominant For the second week in a row, the opening play of the period, lead. Simpson’s first carry of the the Panthers put the game vir- freshman Noah Long further tually out of reach in the sec- staked his claim for a starting second half was almost as ond quarter. spot in the Panthers’ backfield spectacular as his opening atAfter having scored 35 points next season with a 59-yard tempt in the first – a 35-yard in the second stanza in last scoring sprint up the mid- jaunt, which moved the ball to week’s 51-0 home victory over dle following another forced the Champion 30, after which he and Seward traded off runs Glenn, Liberty Hill crossed the 3-and-out by the defense. goal line twice and cashed in a According to Walker, both until Minix hit another field Minix field goal for a 17-point Long and senior Bryant goal, this one from 21 yards

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

Post player prolific point-producer

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Anthony Sierras heard he and his family were leaving California behind for Texas, he had a certain image in his head of what life in the Lone Star State might be like. “It’s kind of cliche, but I thought it would be cowboys walking around and stuff,” said Sierras, whose move was precipitated by his mother’s work. “Also, a lot of desert.” Turns out both are true to a certain extent – just not to the extreme he perhaps expected. One thing exactly the same are the dimensions of a basketball court, which is where Si-

erras has made an immediate impact. Currently, the 6-foot-2 junior forward is averaging 23 points per game for the Panthers and has been quite the spark for head coach Barry Boren’s club, helping the team get off to a flying start in its first season as a Class 5A squad. Sierras has shown an uncanny ability to play multiple positions, including down low on the post, where he’s a bit undersized compared to some of the opponents guarding him under the basket, but no worries, as he has the hoops acumen to compensate, said Boren.

“Center isn’t his best position, but he’s like a Swiss army knife – he can do everything,” he said. “He’s had such success because he just knows what to do. Anthony’s a presence at both ends of the court.” Sierras is from Antelope, a small city of 45,000 on the outskirts of Sacramento in northern California so one could say he’s simply traded one capitol for another, with Austin right down the road by about the same distance. He played at Antelope High School, which has an enrollment of about 1,800 and plays

See SIERRAS, Page B2

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Anthony Sierras (#10) has found not only a new home in Liberty Hill, but one under the basket for the Panthers since moving to Texas from California before the season.

out and a 27-0 lead. After running roughshod over the Chargers’ defense earlier, Calabretta had another go after Carter Hudson had picked off an errant Kaiser pass, only this time he found the end zone on a 32-yard run and a 34-0 lead after three. Calabretta added his second score of the game with a 1-yard dive at the end of a 14play, 67-yard drive to close the offense out for the evening, but the defense still had some business to conduct in preserving the shutout. After Champion had advanced into Liberty Hill’s side of the field – a drive which included an 18-yard completion which was its longest play of the game – Aaron Brewer busted in on Kaiser, sacking him and stripping the ball before recovering it himself and it was officially a done deal. In addition to Simpson’s 184 rushing yards and Calabretta’s 114, Long ran for 135 on 13 carries and Seward added 79 on 18 attempts in thoroughly ending the Chargers’ season. The game marked the second contest without former Liberty Hill head coach Jeff Walker, who passed away from cancer on Dec. 1 and his brother is still keenly aware of the influence the late coach had on his players. “Oh, it’s awesome,” he said. “You know, Jeff trained these young men and helped build them into the young men they are today and they’re doing a great job of just carrying that on and showing their toughness.” Walker said he will continue to carry his brother’s spirit onto the sidelines with him. “It’s still emotional,” he said. “I look up the sky and hopefully my brother’s up there watching it and I know how proud he would be of these young men and that kind of just keeps me going and keeps me excited and these kids just keep doing everything they’re supposed to do – they do a great job of taking it day by day and trying to get better each and every day.” Thomas echoed Walker’s sentiment in sizing up the mindset of he and his teammates as they march on in the postseason. “Yeah, I would say he’s our main inspiration,” he said. “He brought us all together and I know he’s giving us strength from above and we just keep on going.” Liberty Hill (10-0) will next face Rouse (10-1), who defeated Mercedes, 57-28, on Friday to advance to a third-round matchup with the Panthers in the regional round at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock on Dec. 26 at 7 p.m.

Page B2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, December 24, 2020

The Panthers continue to roll through the playoffs with constant reminders of their former coach on their helmets and in their hearts to provide inspiration and motivation. ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Liberty Hill senior Ayanna Donwerth has signed a national letter of intent to compete in cross country and track at Baylor University. (Courtesy Photo)

Donwerth signs with Baylor for cross country

Purple Reign rolls on

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor At this p o i n t , we don’t k n o w what’s more impressive – Liberty Hill’s always-deadly offense, or the lads on the other side of the line who have been shutting down opponents with the regularity of the rising sun this season. The latest display of dominance took place at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park last Friday in the Panthers’ utter dismemberment of Boerne Champion. Going into the contest, we figured this would be the first true test for the Purple-and-Gold this season, but we couldn’t have been more wrong in our assessment. In fact, the best the Chargers looked all night was when they galloped out onto the field at the beginning of each half through a giant horse head, compete with a flowing mane and enough smoke for an ‘80s metal concert. However, it was Champion who got completely smoked on the evening and should’ve be forced to change its name to “Boerne Runner-Up” or even “Boerne Loser.”

Perhaps a bit harsh, but the scoreboard doesn’t lie and for the sixth time this season, a Liberty Hill opponent had a big, fat doughnut next to its name when the clock hit zeros. Speaking of which, we’ve lobbied before for the return of the Big Black Panther for the Liberty Hill players to run through and we will again – especially in the wake of consecutive opposition inﬂatables by both Glenn and Champion the past two games. Can we please get Prowler back? Please? But, we digress. The defense notched its seventh straight shutout, considering Marble Falls’ lone touchdown in the Panthers’ 44-7 road victory over the Mustangs was a scoop-and-score of a fumble by the offense. The dynamic duo of linebacker Andon Thomas and defensive lineman Lloyd Johnson has been massive, as anything that gets past Johnson at the line is quickly chased down and gobbled up by fellow junior Thomas. What kind of chaos and havoc will these guys cause next season as seniors? But, that’s next year and this is still this year. On the other side of the ball – the one we’re used to talking more about – Charlie Calabret-

ta did his best Steve Young impression with a spectacular 64-yard run down the right sideline on his way to 114 yards rushing on the evening and a pair of touchdowns. Wheels like Young, hair like Lawrence. How can you go wrong? Something we witnessed earlier in the day was a convoy of Purple-and-Gold that accompanied the team buses on the 15-mile trip down the road, complete with ﬂags ﬂying from the beds of trucks and other various vehicles driven by Panthers supporters. Painted on the widows of the buses were messages such as “District Champions” and more importantly “Walker Tough,” as the memory and spirit of the late Jeff Walker continues to envelop the entire program – and community – with the combination of love and toughness the man himself projected during his all-tooshort time in this life. However, the young men he was so proud of roll on to face nearby neighbors Rouse in the third round. Coincidentally, the Raiders will be the second straight Liberty Hill opponent named for an AFC West NFL club, after the Chargers. Which leads us to the question “Is there a ‘Chiefs’ or ‘Broncos’ somewhere in the

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Next fall, when Ayanna Donwerth steps to the starting line of the first cross country race of the season, the current Liberty Hill senior will still be wearing gold, but will have traded purple for green as she has signed a national letter of intent to compete in both cross country and track at Baylor University. “The feeling is incredible because I get to continue doing what I love most and to have the opportunity of being coached at the collegiate level,” said Donwerth. “All those days where I wanted a break, but was pushed by my family and coaches to keep going because it will all be worth it one day and now it is.” Donwerth was the lone Liberty Hill runner to qualify for the Class 5A state championships this year, but knows when she arrives in Waco, the competition will be the most fierce she’s ever faced. “I’m ready for whatever comes my way, but I know there will be challenges to overcome once getting there,” she said. “The competition will be hard to fight for a spot and get to compete, but it’s going to be so amazing to be surrounded by others who share the same goals.” Donwerth said she chose

state of Texas to keep the streak going?’” The matchup with Rouse will be played in Round Rock, which means another short road trip – an added bonus of being a Class 5A team this season. Last year, regular-season contests in places like Canyon Lake and Lampasas were longer journeys than the first two postseason games this year, which of course, included a home game at Panther Stadium, so the reduced mileage is certainly a welcome change. Who knows, it’s still early, but with the way the Panthers are playing, perhaps a trip north to Dallas isn’t so farfetched. In fact, at the team’s current pace after 51-0 and 41-0 victories in the opening two rounds, that trend would mean we’ll have scores of say, 31-0, 21-0, 14-0 and finally, 7-0, in the state championship game in Big D as the opponents get progressively more difficult. Interim head coach Kent Walker likes to say he wants his team to be a big, Purple blur on both sides of the ball. So far, the Panthers have been exactly that in leaving their first two playoff opponents in their wake as they ride a wave of emotion and momentum as they move forward.

PANTHER R GAMES FOR DEC. 24

Baylor primarily for what the school will offer her the opportunity to do academically. “I did have other offers and they were all incredible schools with amazing running programs, but for me, it wasn’t just about running,” she said. “It was about my future and what school could help me in the long run. Baylor was so welcoming and the community is amazing – the school has an incredible program for forensic anthropology and that’s what I plan on studying while there.” According to Liberty Hill head cross country coach Kim Holt, Donwerth deﬁnitely has the desire to do well and build on the success she’s had in her high school career. “Baylor is a big Division I school, so it’ll be a big jump from Liberty Hill and she’ll have lots of competition there,” said Holt. “But, I believe Ayanna is very determined to succeed. She works hard and wants to do well and she’ll be challenged at Baylor, which is a good thing, so she can be pushed to see what she can do at the next level.” Donwerth competed in the 1600 and 3200 meters for the Panthers’ track team and said there are enough similarities – especially mentally – to attract her to both sports.

See DONWERTH, Page B6

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Thursday, December 24, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Letters to Santa

From the 2nd Grade Students at Liberty Hill Elementary, Bill Burden Elementary, Rancho Sienna Elementary and Santa Rita Elementary schools

BILL BURDEN ELEMENTARY 2nd Grade

DEAR SANTA: How are the randeer? Can I have roller blades please and an i-pad? give me markers and an x-box and candy and chips (spusificly hot chettoo) can you tell Juseus to make it snow. Toodles, Delilah What does the star on the christmas tree mean? Is Jesus birth on christmas or spring? What I want for christmas is a elf on the shelf and a smart watch? Can you get a big lego ninjago set for my brother? Santa go easy on the prisents you don’t want to break them! Also mak sure you know where my house is! P.S. Tell Jesus to let me and my family live along time! Peace and love Josephina haey santa. how are you dooen? Wel I am graet. I was gunea tel you. that I wont a 22 rifl. and a mocnchle bot. and a dig laegoset. and a forwi. and a gadr. Love Isaihh can. I have a pichr uv a rander Can I have a nintendo switch and a gaga ball pit so I need a gaga ball to play gaga ball you remeber the things you shot with and also I need the momma of the dog and I need the daddy of the dogs but it goes right into the ball. and also need one of those things that like icing but not real so I need the mystery one and i need those taco pads also I ned a deer stuff animal I want a real life wizard but a toy one like the ones a real monster a toy pig. I also want a remote control car. Love, Remi Hay ard you do in? I want a yo yo. I want a good christmas I want a teepeen brail. I want a utre cheep saer Love Ryder Santa I have a crismis wish. I want you to make my mom and dad’s life easy for them becasa thay atce like it is so easy but I now it’s hard. and you are the oly santa I now. That makes evey one in the World happy. . P.S. this is krissdffers doder i’m your frind Addi, how are you duoing? Hows the noth pole hows my elf sak? I hop hes god. On and hows my rander? and how misis clos? and I woant a lot of hrf blastr. hows the toy making? I hop you the elfs misis clos and the rander have a wundrfl crismis. Tps. crismis is my favrit holiday. and I woant earmuffs and a bunf and $10,000 poke mo mistre box Seinsie Bryce How are you doing. How is the north pole cold. How are the elf. Am i on the naety list santa. For christmas please can i get a kite, some pecils, some crayons, and i want the super colsele indonima as rex. Thank you santa. Love Ryan Clarkson P.s. i, love christmas How are you dooing at the north pol? Can you sin me a pickcher of rootoof? I would like a skatbood. I would like a playstashin with footnith. I would like to ask you wut you wunt for crismis? Love your ferend Layten I hope you had a good year in the north pool! My elf all reddy came she came in novem-

hep you git the rit odmis prim toy Your frid Weston Sellers

I want a vr, dirt bike, and a rc bote. Asd a kids wach. and thank you for bring my ﬁrst elf. I name him budnny. He gave me a grigrbrend house box the 2 day i got bdnny he made a game gor me. Love, Deven

My favriote things on my chrismas list is eletricals and 1000 robux. I’ve been good this year mabybe a little mean but I’ve been good most of the year. Eleanor

Im not askeing fuor That much fuor This year ol I want is a motorcycle gas motor with the numbr 400. Riley

Dear Santa...

Editor’s Note: Letters appear as written, unedited.

siabes wrld and a bpiyre of a wupeold. To xoxo Avehy achecs

ber. I was surprised to see her it’s hard yo find her. We make cookie’s all the time for you. And we love you and snow flake O and the reindeer. Can’t wait to see you this year. Bye. Santa im so excited. Until next time Kimber How are you doing? Is it snowing hard in the north pole? I want a drawing thing, when you draw on it, it can show up on the ceiling. I would also like a mask with zebra stripes on it. Do you have one of them? I deserve them because I have been mostly good this year. Does my elf Fred tell you whitch house you already gave presents to? Are you the only person that lives in the north pole besides Mrs.Claus, the reindeer, and the elfs? peace and love chandler Johnson How is life going? I am more the happy to tell you my christmas list. I am wanting a helmet for my bike. A kick stand for my bike, a smart watch, a rc car, cloths, captain underpants books, dog man, books, a VR headset, and don’t forget I want nauto books!!! and a prank robot. Love Caleb I just wanted to tell you that Ella’s doing fine at are house so far. This morning she was on top of the frig- and she ate all of Alice’s pringles. Also, I want you to grant me a wish the wish is….. well I want a unicorn. Oh and the puppy(real) on my christmas list it has to go to my mom’s house. All the rest of the stuff go’s to my dad’s house. Tell you elfs to come to my dads house too. Also, last thing how are you doing? Take care, Lucy Zandt How many presents do you diliver every cristmas santa? Heres a fue things I want a elatric dirt bike,golf tee’s,bat bag, batting gloves, football with glove,remote contral car and,bout, new strap shoes, babe blade atachment, house shoes, go pro, and a Elf. I really,really want a Elf. Thanks santa for all the presents that you gave me in the past years and hopheley I will get some of the things I want. Please send me a leter of presents you delivery every cristmas. Love, Reece Hou are the reindeer? I want the xoxo tic tac toys cupcake. I no I am asking for a nuther thing. What X mas mean? How are you? And I want the ear mufs from targit Is the north polu ok? love, Faith gerrell ps I no that I am wishing to have a good christmas with my Family. It is december and it is almost christmas. I am goin to tell you some of the things I want for christmas. I want a motor bike, scooter with two wheels, nintendo switch, and hot wheels. I have also been as good as I could. My elf came two days ago.Anyways I think you are the best santa there could ever be. You are the best! Peace and love, Sadler

Stuffed animal Elf nerf elecktrick scooter dirt bike slime puddy stuffed animal lamborgine stuffed animal tiger Jocks Can I Please have for Christmas some Puddy a elf a squishallow and slilm and new pair of shoes al lol dolls. Net a dinzy double and a rain bacorn and seris two mini brand. Then a na na na supris and pants and shirts. xox, Calianne

Santa, am i on the nice or noty list?i wat a computer for gameig and all the youtube stuff to be a youtuber? And im listing for them hoofs on the reindeer so you know. Sinceriy, Easton I beleve that you r real and now i will tell you wat i want for chismiss. I want legos.circle magnets.a new bike and.a ps5 and some friends. sincerely Ezekiel

I hope i am oh the good list. And i want a nerf gun plz. And I really really want a cat But i realy like my elf. My cousin and her mom are Sincerly Daniel alergic to cats. But I still want one so can you get me a cat? I wonder a cat and adler wondcan you also get me a harry het. A dog. And aerie wonder potter Book the seckent one. a trdorool oh and Santa I don’t care about love, Adah presents I care about spending time with my famile. But I still I want a little baby goldendoowant presints. I like you Santa. dle and alot of rainbow owls Santa can I tell you what col- toy and alot of christmas girls or and if its a Baby Kitten or a stuff.and i want some elf stuff Adult. I want a cat with Black and some new monkey stuff Strips. a orange coat and light and some new watrbottles that blue & dark blue. are valentines and i want a real Thank you, Mya B. apple watch .and i want some close lots of I’m you’r bigist fan! I,v bin love, Lily good eat moro hot dogs. I won’t a nantendo swich and a I wont for my mom to not red lamborgine a nerf gun mar- met strut atall this crimea eve. ry christmas. Ceep making those toyz. Love Nash Macok violet l.may i pleas have a pair of raller-sckats. This Is Two.things what I want love, Payton s. or Christmas … 1 is that I would Love to help poor kid’s Am a very nice kid.my elfs that don’t have any Food water name is snow ball. Dear sanor toys and shelter. 2nd is to ta me and your elf snow ball have my very own Box of craft we have a good friendship supplys. Like smelly markers evenknow he is a elf and am and note Books human.how are you? Am good Sincerley, Charlolle Brooks hope your good. Your fruly, Robert p. I want a boat lego set and a bag with a big lol in it Next I want I wunt a gtar for christmas and a mickcrenphon and a Mabel 9 elfs to. What have you been galxy set a phone and a bike doing.have you bin testing the and a neckcaliss and a letick slay. scoter and a mug and a radoe Your frend, Levi s. and a new mask and new books and a hores. I have been good this year.for Caitlyn Meguire christmas i would like a elf on the shelf pleezes. Do you git What I Would like for Christ- tired. How old are you. mas is 2 lol omg doll puppy sincerely, Evelyn p. snowglobe unicorn pjs a pastel wallet camarea diamond neck- I wod like a elf. I wod like a less. sum ﬁsh to. With love bye, Sophia Smith from Kingsley I whit a LoL bole. I whit a dadey bole. I whit sum Brbey stufy. I whit slime. I whit puddy. I whit rte. I whit a stuffed animal. Ivory How are you wut is yor fafrit cole. I wunt a nuther elf. love, Braiden H.

hop i on the nise list this year. I thot way do i not have an elf. I hop you set this leter.ps i hope you send me a letter back. Abawt the elf Sincerely Jasser T.

I wont a kupe birdn i wont a pank kupeblub it has to be pribe.kope birn is the best . i wont a tino smit sow bade. Can I hav a skat bord ples and a Luve, Amara skatdord. clos that iol. Jamal?? May i please have a ps4 and a i phone 11.i have been a I relly want new pair of shoes good boy ill give you milk and please can I have some I Love cookies. you I am so happy that this Love, Luke month has Christmas I hope you have fun at your place I wont a rill skowte elfs e least packing the Presents enles your a red and green elf elfs are by the way is my elf’s Sincerely, Jackson doing good? I Love you Please answer I hop you have a good I love you two elfs that arh in day! my tre and satov i wodn giv Love, Madelynee Clay you the best ces and i want a gamen commuter. I wold Like a new bike and a Love, Eli new back pack and a ipad and animal crosing game. Hav are you doing santa? I Your friend, Eli Scallan wub like LoL dOLLS and LoL

shirts. Thank you, Katelyhn I, would, like a RC, car, Christmas. Than, you Love Alexis I Love you I watd guitar and arsee car Love Brys Onsye I hope you cum to cresmes just no we are her wat I wont LOL dog haws and rar hach umul is and rar hach umu is and nil cit and jhornucorns and a lomo and it iucs lic pop corn and a yuhu corn dress and a foh ahda case weth it and a macupsis Love Alicia I rilly want to have a baby doll carrier and extra baby doll dieppers and extra baby doll food! Say hi to mrs. claus for me Please! ThanK you! Sincerely, Kirle I hope you are doing good i want a rolblox gift card and fhary Closwa Love I would like a wach a mermaid tail a big poster a camoshirts a moon ring and some Benoclers and a snow ball ﬁgh with my friends and a video call with my cusins thank you so so so so muth Fynnie you are the best Santa i can’t wayt to see what you get me this year and I can’t wayt what you put put in my stocking I will make you a gift. from, Reif Baxter to, Santa Claws I want Legos and a water botol and a clashen of over wach and a jernol and ningtoy. Love Jacob This year i want a Justin ﬁelds Jersey and a Phiilip Lindsay Jersey. And a Peyton manning Jersey. Also a Randy moss Jersey. And a Justin simmons Jersey. And a nick chubb Jersey. And a chase claypool Jersey. And a Donavan peoples Jones Jersey and a tyreek hill Jersey. Love Jackson to Santa North Pole. thank you for dilivoring presents I want some lego sets called town sqare, ocen explorer ship, aarmy tank oh and can I also want mine craft, fotnite are you doing ok? senserly Brooks john lennard kirk want for crismus is rolr blase and barbys. L.O.L Last and close and book. Tell the elfs I the hi and tell misys clos I said hi. Love Scarlett I,v been doing my hardest in school. I,v been good. I really want a eletical bike + skateboard + money + academy gift card i hope thats not to much. I have thes best familly IN THE WRD. Luke I wuud like a toy race car for Christmas I like to RC Thank you Love Travis W I hope i see snow this year it’s been one year since I’ve seen it. And can I have a giant teddy. and you are the best. Love Juan I whant a horse a puppy. I also whant a pig a cat and a dog. Love Julia Williams Dear buddy and elf I Wish you have a good Christmas. And I want a ninja bot. Love, Mason I want all of the tattle tales for Christmas, except for the mama. Thank you. Love, Zachary H.

Even without toys I still think you are amazing. I have been nice to my family. Please can I have a strong magnet, stuffed animal bear, a now jaket, A fone. What kind of cookies would you like me to leve for you? Love, Ava I know how much you like cookies. I have helped my mom decorate the Christmas tree. Please can I have a barbie closet, a barbie doll, a golden hoverboard, a controll for the play station to play minecraft, a bike for 8 year old and that has 4 wheels, stuff elf, and a lego friends’ pack. How long does your elve’s work? Love, Kaylee Without you the whole world would explod. I help peopol when they are sad. Please can I have? a PS5 a bran new house fourwlr. I wish I can help? Love, Leo I love you Santa. I love me friends. Please have a dron, fon, and a PS5? how min elf? Love Tripp You are the best Christmas Person ever. I help PeoPle when they are sad. Please can i have, a strong magnet, tY cat. Do you mak the reindeer treats. You are the best love Paityn Even without toys, I still think you are amazing! I stopd making me and my brother tint on our xbox. please can I have a xbox sires to oculus rift, 50 doller geft card, xbox, new tv? Is Mrs. Claus your favorite g Love, Nash Even without toys I sitill love you. I help people when they are sad. Please can I have a hoverboard Please can I have a stuffed animal elf. When do you elves mack toys. Love Anrette I love the toys that you bring evry year! I have been safe respectful and reponsebel in school. Plez can you bring me a Nintindo swich, a sender and a Iphone 12? Do you have to have Chirsmas spirit to get your magic because on all of the Christmas movies that the case. See ya Berkley I love they toys that you bring me. I have been nice to my family. Please can I have a computer and a ﬁtbit! How do your reindeer ﬂy? Love marcos I love you Santa. And your raindeer. I undo the silverware. Please can I have a nintendo swich? Love, Kassn I love you Santa. I helped my mom decorate for Christmas. Santa I know you will get the rite presit for me. Love Oren White You geve my joy even when ot toys. I have ben very god. this is how god i have ben. Ples can I have a ntendo swich a dron that taks vetoes, a plerus that is gas powrt, cros haclis that is shiny. luve, Berennin is mrsis cros your favrut gerl I know how much you love cookies! I have ben so good! Please can I have a explorer? and a Iphon 12? and a elf? Can I please see your sleigh? How many elvefs do you have and raindear? Love, Calen F You are nice. I have a goob family. I have you Santa. Please can I have hot wheels? Love Caleb R CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE

I want a elf. I want a car. I want a jet. I have ben very good. Rock on, Rebekah Smith

how are you doing? Two things I whant is my own Football and Football cards. How are you doing santa? I Thinking of you, Parker Katwish I can meet you so much. koski Trixx is my elf. For christmas can I get a big bay blad set a I wunt a lamborgine and a baby play stashin 5 and a i pade. Can sister and two girl elfs and ten I see pishr of the rdrdere plees? dirt bikes and slime and 120? Plees clen up yor mes I hop stuffed santa and 9,999 ft metball and a clock and you stay hethy From Lincoln Pituch Xoxo, Brantley Combrell Haw is redolf and Blisn and dansr I want a HVF rdrod For crismis and I wet a Hot wels set oslo I wut and books Fore

fo christmas I wot a nuthr elf and I wot a etedo switch fo crismis and I wot a leshic skodr LOVe, Majele

Page B3

Hiy Santa How are yor elfs dowen? Dow you haf the rit odmis prim toy? I hep you are giten rede for crismis I rile rile

to: San ta

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you give me sow much joy. I chriy to not fit. please can I have a woch, pocket nif, drone, drum, 30$, cros neclis, ntidoswich, miny motrsicl, meney rowbot lagos? Wut cind of cucey doow you lic? Luve, Westin You mean a lot to me! I help people when their really day and make my friends smile with one word. Can I please have a simple dimple, popit soccer ball and a soccer goal? What is ur favorite type of cookies? Love, Taylor I love the toys you bring evry year! I unlod the dishwasher for my mom! I want for christmas Please can I have the LOL OMG ReMix Super Supris, Baby doll joovy car seat a girl and boy one, a LOL and OMG doll, elf on the Shelf? How big is you sleigh? Love, Brinley I love you biby You are the best person I ever met! I let my friends go before me every day. May I plase have a Fitbit watch, Collection of minecraft lego sets, Christmas PS5, Hover board and a Nintendo? Do you know Math? Love, Rowdy Blake Russell I love that you nevr giv up being asun joly Santa! I will help my friends with they are sad. I wish for a mikyufohne a camry and raprs for making presints like you, a dron that can spiy with a dron. I hope you wish never get sick. I kood help your elves. love: Shilah Bates Without you the Whole world would explode. I help peplp when they are sad. Can I have a nerf gun sniper? Can I have a Ifone? How do you mack toys? Love Gavin I hope you are well in the North pole. I take out the trash. Please can I have a fitbit, stuffed animal elf, unacorn that you can do the mane? Do rane deer eat candy canes? Love, Saije LIBERTY HILL ELEMENTARY DEAR SANTA: haw old are you? Haw miny elfs doo you hav. Are you mared? Do you Have a reindeer named love, Garin For crismas I would Like oui the animul oniks but not puppit. He will hont my dreams. okay. I love yo santa. From Kena what do you’r raindeer do when it is not christmas and. I want a mrmaid tale and my mom, whants something special and some cloths. And that’s all. Love CJ I wish that you woud tell me haw you are you tall or short Plese ansr to this qeshten Plese thank you so much santa sosososo much Santa. From Audrey Melchor thank you for all my presents. I am having a hard time beacuas i broke my anckele I wish for it to be esayer with my broke anckele. Your friend tanner Me and my brother have been good this year thank you for the pajams and sending patch and Qinst. I have a qestin what do you and miss clause and the Elfs do when your not makeing toys. Or eating cookie or drinking milk. anways like cookies and Milk. Love, Emmalyn C I want a LOL house and a tv of my own and gliter slime and a poopsy and clos. that is all Santa. Love Lillian how was music invented? I love the song Cat Im A Cat. Whats on my wish list? It’s a surprise. your friend. Emma can we have a elf in are class pells? I will be funing wih the elf is bad! LOL! Santa u want a minecraft toy for crijns. Love: Nicholas Santa all I want for chrismis is a huverbord an fanmly too. santa haw old are you i am

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT going to ges 260. Santa wut do yor rander do. Do thay go in thare kagis or what do thay do. from dean for chrimis I want a White bunny names Snow ball. Just letting your know! and my sister wants a toy fairy. What do you do When it’s not chrismas? Build toy? Your friend Jessa Mae I wood like a Xbox live and a T.V. and a ccholer to go with it. I wood like more toys and it is December, 2, 2020. From Hunter Braxton. and I hope your Elfs ar doing fine. I don’t want anything specific this year. I feel like I have everything I need. Please still leave suprises! Your friend, Sammy My brother an me Ben super good an dad an mom so I want a watch an a repstik a now skatbord ples an for my brather ples meens Love Levi I hope the raindeer are doing well. I hope you are not in a rush. Because I have a few things I want a lego set. And a sewing michene leson. I’ll sew a new hat for you. Or blankets for your raindeer. Or if you need to go shoping I can sew you a mask. Oh how is mrs. claus doing? I hope she is just fine. See you at Christmas. Also I’ll make the best cookies for you. Also they will be very helthy. I won’t forget about the raindeer. I give them some carrets only the Best for you and your raindeer. Do you want to hear a joke? Nock nock whos there owl. Owl who? Owl wait whilie you ger Ready ha ha ha Love, Maggie I wish for a new poster not my my other one I wish for a mando one. Also how is mrs claus? I also wish for a peach sqcwishe for my clechen. Ooh can i also have a har for my loses? senserly, Laynie How are you and the elvs, and Mrs Claus, oh, and how are all the reindeer. Can you do me a favor tell Bob thankyou. Thank you for wroking ever year all for making presints fo us. This year I was hopeing for a giant slime kit. Your frind, Hallie How are you doing? I will like a rumote cuchl car for christmas baybe? And we mite not do stockings thus year. How is mrs claus? thank you for the prezens. You are the best for everything you do. How are the reindeers? I am going to give you a present for christmas. Love Abby Fuller thank you for the prasints. And I have two presints i want a phone and pac man and the gostle adventures disk for the xbox. And do you celebrate christmas kus you have to delver the toys first and that is a lote of time spent so do you? and i don’t now if there would be a christmas without you love Dylan Foster I hope you have a good Chrismas also your reindeer and your elfs and Mrs Claus and Rodolph. I will have cookies and milk. I wood like a toy nerf gun. Merry Christmas. Love, Bryson Akin I want a Spider-man mite morales. Is rodolph real? What do you do for Christmas? Thank you for everything you do. What do you call a Rudolph that drools. drooldolph. Love, Cohen I have always wonderd haw you get arawd? Can I have ples have a chicin and a fish? I am so happy you are alive. Haw is the reindeer? Love, Sawyer How is Mrs. claus? How are the reindeer? I want a nintendo switch and a ipad and a remote control Airplane. How are you doing? Thank you for working every year Love, Blake I hope you have a prfict christmas. I hope you have a safe thravol on you slay. I hope you get the presits to evryone. And mrs claus gets to make magical cokis, And I hope the elfs don’t go away. and

the reindeer don’t get tierd on chrismas ev. I wihs that I can have a butterfly kit becus i rilly whant to have a butterfly I hope you have a wonderful christmas so i hope you have safe thravels. Sinserly, Kate Falts I hope you have a grate Christmas. How are you? I hope you are not sick. How is mrs. claus doing? How is Rudolph doing? I donte want much stuff. But I want the mountain cave set wich is a minecraft lego set. Love, Alex room #116 I don’t want much this christmas! I would like a rapenzel doll. I would also like a little surprise pet resue kit. How are the reindeer? How is mrs claus and Rudolph? I am thankful you work so hard making toys. I hope you and mrs. claus are going to have a great christmas. Love, Charlotte I hope evry thing is going all right. Oh just so you know my brother doesn’t belive in you so he might be on the notty list. But I truly belive in you. hear are 2 things I mostly want a neckless and a nintendo swich light. Love, Casem How have you been this past year? I hope you have a wonderful Christmas? For Christmas, i would like a video camera that i can record all of my family’s memories. The second thing that i am wishing for this year is a mega nerf gun set. Please? Love, Emma Boles How are reindeer doing and how is Mrs. Claus doing? Santa thank you for giving us gifs and presents. How is evry thing up in the north pail Santa this christmas I really don’t wont iny thing. I hope you hav a grat christmas. Sincerely, Lincoln How is Mrs. claus and how is the reindeer? Thank you for gifing us presis. How are they dowing? Are you dowing good? For christmas I want a LOL unicorn and bike and LOL House and a unicon teffy and a crafing set and a American girs. Merry christmas. Love, Kennedy You are the best santa. Is Rudolph reel? Is he santa? Thank you for all the presens. Do you like my cookies santa? I want a kid car and chikin. Wut do you call a reindeer that drool a lot. A drooldeer. Haha. XOXO Dylan s I like that you eat cuces and are nckwick. I love the prezin. I like the rapr on the prezins. Love Caleb For christmas can I get air pods? I want air pods because the one that I have always get tangled. and I want air pods pods because they are wireless. can I get a laptop to. can I have it because it has a bigger screen than a phone. Love Helen Merry christmas this year I want a big presnt. I hope you can do that I would relly like a big toy! Do you spend money on the toy? Can’t wait Love Hailee I reatle wut a vr set and a skos and a bsske. and foteev toys. With love nolia Can you dleve presins on christmas evav? We are going to uto on christmas morning. Can i have a pon and 10000 Robux? I hop you get my letr sooon. xoxo, Lucy I want a Lego Brittanic and olimpic. Oslo a Lego Battle ship, Destaer, Aircraft carer, thoi tanker and u-bot with 4 or pitoes I Olso want a Lego hinden burg thank you! by Levi Fore christmas can i have inithing? I just want a flying ufo plese and a inuther thing a romot cutroll car. Plese can i have a sonic remot robot? thank you! Love you Jeremiah I want a fec christmas is vbucks and a golme. When thers a elf it better not rap its celf in toleit paper because last christmas he did it.

Sincerely merry christmas cait wait westen I want you to Have A good crismas. Eat my coogis. My brother Dosit BULF in you. But I Do. What E what for crismas is a ocels and a wnach. Sonsily, Branson For christmas I wood like a hu bod and some books. And a new water bottle. I hope I can get one. I wely need one for chrismas. I wood also like the minny mart Love Sophia Marry chrismas This year. I ben the godist i can be. I what a lago. trane for christmas. and a cup for christmas. Merry christmas Love gabe i wat f ceztez a mobol and rebhorze pbe a momoey arpg darrmi dabeyah opvzel! Louve you Mckenzie can you bring me a star wars sporo? also a cozmo and a powe teteas? and a tobi smart watch and a micro charoers lite rasers trak and a vector and a tarbrit and some ninja bots. Love Juan Tomorrow my efs moving! For christmas can I have a prezent pet and a phone please? Your Frend Lily This year for Christmas I would like a new soccer ball and new soccer goals for christmas. I need new controllers for my nintendo switch. I would love a persnle robot. That would be great! I also would like a ipad. Can’t wait, Myles I want for chrismas is twist pets. Can I have tots sipers? Tots Can I have ah elephant? Can I have a tots hecrers? Can I have zoes rescue. Love Juliet I love u alot! U know what I love taking a picture with u ! and I am super happy that we have 23 days untill christmas !!! santa I will like a Mario kart live home circuit Luigi kart. Merry christmas, sammy, I hope you have enjoyed yoer Day’s of. Can I have a twisty chair twisty girl.walke-talkies. A play house. A stufed animal DoG and a twisty pet’s. Fram Harper Dear mr.clas thank you for my indo m nis rex . what i want rpo/Nerf Venom toy Fort Nite Game Human Fall Flat Game yore frend Emory Thehyou for my bike. I ride it evry day. You are the best at delivering presents.can I have a lava lap for crimmis. Love Jayce Thank you for the kiace I hope you have a mery cherismis santa and I want a art kit and a toy tank. Love caleb Thank you for caring for my family. I really WONT the barbie dream house. love,Tiffany Thank you for the trampolinean the vamporenu car I love the trampoline.Thank! thank thank you sosososo muh.I love christme sososo muh It is my ferit I love you end mrs.cleuse if. Ropof is is rel i love him to Love cali Thank you for all the candy thank you that you gave us in are stocks. Thank you for the Ipad,the pink spinny chain and caring for my family this year i would lik new lols and a new phone case for my phone! love Alivia Thank you for giving me toys . can i get a 100$ Xbox one concholer? I want an iphone 11. And thats about it love treavor I hope you have a good christmas and I hope you know what I whant for christmas It’s a bick and a new electric scooter Thank you for the barby doll That you got me last year I loved it. I played with evrey what even in the bath tub. I even brushed her har evrey day merry cristmas santa clus. love madi Thank you for my presents thse past 7 years of my life. I would really whant a gymnastics bar And a contorion hoop and hoop earrings and the omg doll big wig. See you soon santa clause sincerely Ashlyn M.

Thank you for making our family happy. Thank you for giveing me courage. Thank you for the laghter in my family. And christmas is a lovely holluday Love Hennley Santa, Thank you for are trampoline me and my bruther and my sisters’s we play on it everyday even on cold day’s. It was this christmas I what a twisty girl and a baleybare with a stretching band and ain my stoking I what a brusk and a bathbome. Have a merry christmas Santa Clus! Love, Avery P Thank you for Mario cart delux. I want a lego mario starter for christmas. I hpe you have a grat flight. Your frend on the good list, Judd Thank you for the sooter last yaer. I rilly in goyd it. Whin my friends came over we playd with it. This yaer I wunt a rc xmax. The biggest rc xmax. It has large weels and large shocks. It can go over a lot of tranes. Merry christmas to you and mrs. claus. Love, Bobby I hope you enjed giving us pesnts. Thank you for giving us pesnts on Dec 15. Thank you filling our stockings with candy. I hope you have enjed giving us things I love you. Love, Zach thac you for gibing Back TO poley hat neD thac you Is SJ JiJe and I mad hon for please can I NaNaNa sepsis can I pese have reli hors can I have a ras can I plese Brush Can I plese have hors that I can Woc can I plese have food so my mom doesn’ hav t buy It I nank you santa! Love Evelyn What is your favorite toy that you make? This year I wan’t a couple things, I wan’t a trampoline if my mom and dad don’t get me one, and I wan’t that prodject McSquared Pink bag, you know with all the stuff inside. I was wondering do you have a favrite elf, if you do can you please tell me which one it is. Best wishes, Liana D’Angelo I’ve been good this year. My family is moving soon so I don’t know which house I’ll be at on Christmas day but I hop you’ll know where I am. For Christmas I would love Baby Yoda toys, Harry Potter stuff especially Ravenclaw, feisty pets and a Snackeeze cup. I’d also love for you to send and Elf on the Shelf to watch me and my siblings before christmas. I’ll leave you chocolate cookies and milk because I know you love them. Love, Nora J Enis My elf claus is keeping a good eye on me. he is on my nintendo today. hes sleeping and one day he was the king of were my dad works in the house. Your friend, luca How do you see all of the people in the world? I have been a good kid this year. What I would really want for Christmas are books that have facts about animals or Narwhal and Jelly books. I would also really like my very own 27 inch Penny skate board. I hope you come because I have cookies! Love, Amira Guevara The first thing I want on my christmas list is the Trex vs Dino Mech Battle Lego set. Love, Masen How cold is it at the North Pole? I have learned how to use tools and feed animals. I would like 3 baby pigs and a motorcycle. My sister would like a doll set. Love, Jaydon How are you and your reindeer doing? I am writing this letter to tell you what I want for Christmas. 1. I want princess things. 2. And a dollhous. Love, Devani Shepard I hope you are doing well same for Miss.Claus and all the reindeer like dasher and comet. My birthday is in 3 days and I love your holliday!!! PS. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good Night. Noah Streff I hope you don’t get sick with covid-19. How are you feel-

Thursday, December 24, 2020 ing? I’m feeling well. Could you please give me a lot of jolly and joy? Love, Devin Are the elfs okay? I want to see the elf on the shelf. I want a robot to help me with my math and teddy bear. Sincerely, Seth Bates How are you and your elves doing? You are probably very busy. I’m sorry to add to your work load. Could you please bring me a watch that can go in the water and a Lego robot set? A very good boy, Nic Brewster I want a Lol doll I want … Love, Jillian Were you warm last night? I bet the North Pole is freezing cold! I’m sorry you are so busy, but may I add two things? Can you get me a water-proof watch and a Barbie doll? Love, Alexis Brewer Hi, how are you Santa? How old are you? Why are your clothes red? I wuld like the PS4 and Human Fall Flat video game for Christmas. Could you plas get these? Sincerely, Colin Bailey How are you doing? I only have one wish it is to make my pet fish (ginger) stay warm because he is cold. Love, Aryaa Y. RANCHO SIENNA ELEMENTARY

DEAR SANTA: My name is Rance and I am 7 years old. For Christmas I would like Nerff guns V Bucks Fortnite bow and arrow FortNite pistols FortNite Bazooka Love, Rance Me and Mateo are so excited for Christmas to come. We are that excited that we evin made reindeer food for your reindeer’s. We hope they like it. And do you like our Christmas light’s? It was hard work for my dad. And can you get a Sata hat for Mashmelo? From: Izabell Salazar How are you doing? I’m doing Good. You don’t no but my favret HalluDay is Christmas am I NAUGHTY OR NICE? bY the way I ben whating some stuff Like a huVrnord and earings to mary Christmas Love, Ella I hope you are doing god. I rily won’t a american girl doll for Christmas the one named casy. I rily won’t casy because because then I wod have there dolls and I wod amost have as much dolls as my sisters my sisters have for dolls. Love Harrie How old are you santa? can I have a drt bike? First, min is slow. Next, my engen is Brokin. win did you grow your berd? thank you for being kind. love, Wyatt How are you doing? How long have you been Santa for? I always wanted a White rabit. First, I been good this year. Next, I always wanted a rabit. Finally, I really want a pet that can come inside. I appreciate all the things you give me evey year. Love, Kimley How are you doing? How is it in the North pole. I would really like a game kalld stadea on the pc. First, I git really bord oftin. Next, I like to play games. Finally, I Will sher with my sibling. your friend, Rex Hi santa how was your day? will you give me a teddy bear but a black teddy bear? ok santa but its look like a twin like ted-ted ok Santa, Your favorite kid Easton How are you Santa I was wondering how do you give all of thoughs presents to all of those children on nite. Dos it bother you that it is cold in the north pole? in by the way I like your white beard and your hat. I like the white part. I just want to say I love you. I appreciate everything you do for the children. by Quincy How are the reindeer? I really want LoL dolls. I am good. I CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE

Thursday, December 24, 2020 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

am happy and kind I miss you. Love, Lexi How are you doing? I would really love a mic. Because I am nice. I am a good student. I listen. I am happy that Christmas is coming soon! Loves Iver I want robux so bad. Its my favorite. 1. I only have 4 robux. 2. Because robux is for my game. 3. can you all your robux? love Liam How are you doing? are you happey? I want a mac book. First, I have bin good. Next min broken. Finally, to do school. I thik you are kind. I like that you give us toys. I like that you are good and nis to us By Mckenney How do you get all the presents to every body in one night? I love you. I would really like an iphone 12. I was nice. Next, I like calling my friends. Finally, I like calling my grandma on Christmas and because we moved to Texas she might not be able to come. Sincerely, Sydney How is the north pole? Is it cold? How is the reindeer? I want 20 dollars for christmas. First, I care for the homeless. Next I care for the poor. ﬁnally I want to pay the bills. I’m glad for you. Love, Jakob I love you. Is rudolph doing good? Can I please have moded minecraft. I have been good at school. I have been good at home. I’v been a nice friend. Love Dylan I wut atedo switch fo cresmast I luv etado swesh I am goot to atmosweh. Love, Javier How have you ben? I really want a puppy because my parents say no dogs but my little brother pulls my hair and punches me. I also want a puppy because when I ask my little brother to play with me he says no. So I really need somebody to play whith. Sincerely your friend, Karina I love you. How are you? Can I please have an Ipad? my Ipad is broken. I am nice to my Friends and FamiLy. I will share it with my mom. your friend Harris How is the north pull? I would realy like a Video game called animal crossing. I want it because my friends talk about it at school and it sounds very fun. Allso you can make your own self wich is cool. I am very thankful for you comeing to my house at night and giving me presens. Your friend, Lauren I wat a Drt Bike Because I can rid it I can ranoc it in my groj I can ply tow prsin rit Bik with it in the time it is zo fun I love you mom and dad it is so funI love you mom and dad. Love, Mason I want heely shoes They are fun and you can skate on them, I keep my playroom clean can I have heeix pleasy Love, alana What I want for Christmas is a hover to play on because every time I se people riding one I beg my mom for one But she ses it is to munch money and the color I want is Blue with a mix of purple with a mix of pink But if you can not do that you can just make it blue and thank you for spining all your time on making the presents and thank you for staying up all night to deliver presents. Your elfs to you are very caefull to all you are all so so kind to give that is why I have allways allways believe in you and I have allways loved the presents that you have gave me and I am sher glad you are still alive because you are the best at making presents you and your elves are the best at making everything that is why I Love Love Christmas I don’t kist like Christmas because of the presents it is allso because of Jususes Birthday and I like celebrating Jususes birthday but what I really want for Christmas is a ordament that had jesus and me huging that is what I realy realy want for Christmas Love, Emma Kate Vaughn

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Dear Santa, I realy want a ice cream Sunday Sqishies for Christmas. I use to have more sqishies but they brock. I want more ice cream sqishies Because sqishies are so fun! Love, Sophie I want a slime shop with slime suplis. I want a slimetory shop because it is spisfying to play with. I NEED a slimatory shop Because my mom is mad wen I play with it. A slime shop because mackse me happy Love, Hayden Elisebith Haslam I want 2 space cat squishiy. The only squishy I had broke so I wat to rye piccelt cat are my favrit Love, Christine I want a dirt Bike I want a dirt Bike Because I like to ride dirt Bike I have been good and responsible dirt Bike dirt Bike are fun Love, Maxton I relly want a new watch tell me how much steps I walk in a day and one with a timer so I can time stuff and I relly want it to water prooph so if I acsedently get it wet please. Love, Jewel Vaughan I hope you Have a good cristmas. I want a PS4 so i can play on it. So I can play on it in my room. Becus PS4s are cool. Love, Kolten I want a Amarikan gril doll sleid with wintre clos please. thank you. Reason 1: is is close to wintre and I wold like one to push my doll marellin in is acrose the ﬂoor tiyle. Reason 2: I old want it because I wold Have fun with it. Conclusion: A sied wold be Relli fun for my doll Love, Mia Fore crismis I wat a HotWeel go J pawer chros. Posh in set a toy wod. Hare tit Legos. Ntito Switch a toy car a molcithol spidm. Hloopti toy. Love, Lucas Meek I want a BaseBall helmet becaeis myn is to tiney for me. Becaeis is un coftrble thay are cool. Love, Logan Felder I would like an amarican girl doll loft bed that is white with dotted pillows and a ﬂip blanket that matches the pillows and the other side pink striped and the dotts Navy and small! PLEASE THANK YOU Love, Briell, faith, farr I want a LOL doll that moves its head and you can take it off. My sister took my LOL. I have been good. LOL’s are so wte and fun to play with. Love, Isabella I want a intendi swich plese Santa, I love marryo kart on it and other games on the intendo swich marryo karrt is one of my favorite video games because my dold got wiae of it last year and I’m tring to get it back by being good every single day I my intendo swich sosososo much Love, Benjamin For crasmis I wold like a krsef Book Becase so I can lrn to rite krsef it is so cool to rite to wase Lrning is fun! Love, Jackson how are you santa You are the Best can I git a lite up hvorbod for Krismis and I well lev melk and coces for you I dnt hav a farplas in my haws But I will pot it udr my Krismis Love, Bryce I want to meet you. I would love some new shoes. I want a computer and a phone. I want new clothes. How are the reindeer? What do they eat? Love, Jayden Howe are yor elves? Can I have a bike and a mouse for a computer Ayden Hi, santa how are the elifse doing how are you doing? I want dogman please I wood like unleashed dogman and lord of the Freas and original dogman and of two kittens please santa Tanner how is your Elfs aer your Elfs ok. Can you mark my family Helf. How aer you Fieling. Aer you good.

How are the elfs? Wich on is your favrit? Oh, and can I please have a PS5. Oh and haw are you? Love Aidan How are you doing I want a PHone a ostndoxsis! A Wate no chronu! that is it hope i can cee you swone Love Jack Can I hava a toy car and a ball heckalist ering fortnith jomu and cool shoos Love Alayna how are the elves doing? and how are you doing?I wood like a bog man book the Tidal is bog Man for whom The ball roll Ples. Breelyn I hope you are Doing good and your elves i would waNt to have a new Blue Switch controller Because my last one Broke also I want a X Box Series X Bye Santa Love Chase how are you doing? I would like a baby yoda toy. a dig it up pinasours toy. Love Andrew D. For Christmas i want a healthy family and for Christmas i want a toy barbee dreem howse for Christmas and i want an elevator on it and i want it voyse actuvatide. Love Soﬁa are the elves healthy if they are let me no P.S jack elf got ranrover love william Haw or you or your elfs? im gonu giv you coces. I want you to git rid of All covid. I wont BABY Yoda a dos man stuffed animal a sirh stufed animal a little peety stufed animal I want a chcit stuffed animal I want a pigeey stufed animal Love Aiden M. How are you and how are your elves and how is Ms class? Santa may I please have a healthy family this christmas and can I maybe have a rainbow high gril please. also a happy family. Thank you Santa have a happy christmas. Love Amelia Kate I wish for a bascket ball or a bike. and a helthy family. and a marry christmas. How are your elves doing and what is your favrite? cooky so I can put it out for you. love Penhettu I want a healthy family. I want a happy chrismis. I want no more corona virus. love Josh I hope your elf are good. i wood like a good life. and i wood a gamer computer and a mouse. and i hope you have a nice Christmas. love eli Emry Elkins xoxo eli I Want A little sistr and How are you Doing. Love Justin dere Santa I hope you have a good crismis my name is Arabella May. how are you doweing? I am to be betr then last year so can I ples have sometheing like a xbox an a nentendow swith an a legow sat ples can I hav a cool toy like that if you hav time god by I hop you hav a god crismis from Arabella p.s Love, Arabella May! Howe are you doowing today? my elf on the shelf came I hope he sees that I have bin good. howe many cocees do you want? I will give you a lot of carits for yor randerse. Can I plees have a nintdow swich plees. Love, Holden How are you doing, how are the raindeer doing? Thank you for making Chrismas a special day. I wonder how Mrs. Clos is doing? For chrismas can I have Pokemon cards because I love to culect them. Can I pleas have a trick scuter because I want to learn some tricks. Can I pleas have a toy dragon I realy like dragons. I also want it because dragons are realy cool and I want it because I love books about dragons. Love, Luke Ventura How are the randir I have had a good year. How are you? Can

I please have a baskitball hoop because I would like to prais. I woud lovethe hole intir sieres uv the baby sitrs club and most inportint for everyone to have a grat crismas Scarlett Smithson How are you doing may I have a speede boat because I wunt to cach ﬁsh May I have a Durat Bike Becuss I wunt to RAce May I have aumotv Becuss I want to Hunt Dare Love Casey Jabcsynski Are you comeing? For christmas can I ples have a lolia unicorn bed and trampoline christmas pj and christmas slippers Love Abbey

Page B5 bin a really good girl this Cristmas. Your friend Landry M. Hows the wether going in the North Pole. Hope its not to cold. Hey Santa gess whay? I started basketball. For cristmas can I have a pokemon binder? Because my other one broke. From, Levi How is my elf Sem. I hope he is doowing good now Hee is what I want for Crismis. 1.Shiviveol Stuf 2.Gihy Pig Stuf 3.Dinesors Ok by Santa Sinseerlee Jackson PS Yore good Boy

May I have a puppe the reesins I shold hav it is becas I will de so reesposdall thank you for Chrismis an happyhis an joyﬂis a roun evry chrismis So many chrismis an happy chrismis to you an roodof theess are my reesins I love Chrismis family ams aron to sill u atee chuthr Abigail anisy

How have you bin? I rele wat th no Haw rotof bas been. can I have a pekcho stuf animal? I been a good girl. Love Taylor

How are yo doing? How are your randyer? Thank you for making Chrismis speshel! I hope you get some brakes from dilivring. Som things I wood like. Grimin graye army gise, plees 1 because I don’t have any. 2 because I don’t have any of that coler. A slipping-slid plees 1 because I don’t have any 2 because my brothors wood like it. 3 because it wood be fun for me. A night-hock 1 becase I don’t have one 2. So I can rase my cusin with it. Pleese Love Brooks

how is Scooter? How is it in the north pol How is Rodor? Oh and tell scooter that we can’t wate to see him. What kind of cookie do you like? And for Christmas want a drone that has a camru. Love Grant

thac you for makeing crismus so sol Can I have a Baslit makr plesae can I have a gespies a prpe can I have a witboro aed sunﬂawrs for my mommy aed sum shro aena basc boll aed sum bosaed a LoL aeba nurlol thac you Love, Ally Miller

how are you? How is Jaden? I wod like A phoNe case ples and a ELF costom and sum rabo corns. Your good girl Alina

How are you? How are your reindeer? I think I have been a good girl. I think my elf is intrested. May I have a hola hoop And may I have a Daughter mother necless and a father daughter Braclet and many more stuff. I want stuff Because I don’t have a hola hoop and I want a Daughter mother and a father Daughter Braclet Love, Callie Culliton May I please have a puppy But it is a roBt puppy and sume show Splays to and a Baby Doll and a new Barby Doll and it is PozBoll to and a Ken Doll to and it can Do the sume thing to and a tee set please I theka my elf evie thack’s I ma boing a great job being good to one and others to. But Sast Raux I was mean to my sistrs to but I have jag erand the raey. But may I pleas have a sema snow boos and a LOL OMG Doll and Sema baby splis to. Love Caroline John I want 2 Roblox GiFt card and FortNite Nerf Gun New shoes Legos a Bear pillow Huverbord ipad a computer headset pi,pel peat Love You Santa Love, Nathan

I hope I was nies theis yere. how is E.T. how is rodof I wut a pukign bag and a lot uv pukeymon because I love toys Love Will

I have put blizzard out but he has not moved and do you like sugar cookies? Winstin wants some toys his are so small and now can I have a begle pupey? Can you leve him in a bed in my room? From Lincoln

How is elfy’s leg doing? Can elfy be out elf again? Whit is your favorite type of cookie? I will try to make your favorite type of cookie. This Cristmas I want hatchamals, my two fron teeth and a goldﬁsh. FELIZ NAVIDAD! Ive been good most of this year. Sincerly Madison R. Haw is yor ders and ruof and the elfs ory growing and can you give me a favr? can you giv me a Pokemon and a lethic modrsiki and a call drdey modl and a pistashin and amours and a redstone rok and a hovrbord love santa I love you santa by Kylur How is rodolf? When is our elf coming? I might Leve a note for you at Crismiss. the thing I want Four crismiss is a ipad case legos sets an acion Figures. From Noah im a good boy How are the elfse doing? Are you getting presins redey? can you make a PS4 and nerf guns? Plese? From Nolan Tell you tell me. S Claush? Can you get me a bike for christmas? CanIhave a APPle phones? Tablet? Love Bradley

How Are You Dooing? How Minee Dase Intil Clismis Thees Are The Theeing I Want Dog Man Books Dog Man StuFees By Emerson

My name is Clayton I would like a I-PAD and lagos, pokEMON toys, B B Guns, $100 $500 $5000 AND A PuPPy that’s real. Love Clayton

What is your fRavrit cookie? Is it choclit or shugr cookies Ok I won’t RC cars and clos and a iphone prow and the new PS5 and a PS4 and a PS3 and a Xbox. from Landon

My name is Tanner. I want a nintindo switch and a beer gun. and $100 and 200 V ducks. Love Tanner

how are all the elfs todad? can I see my elf? I Love you Love Leyea So have I bin good so can I have the Zeba? Game 2 plees. And a pup co I can have 3 pups? Ok By Love Kingston how are you doing? Well I will be good for you. Your Elfs must be working hard. Good people is what you want. Santa you are the best. Love Eli How is Snowﬂake and Leroy doing at the north Poel? For Cristmas can I hace a nintendo swich and a little bit of books for me to read? I hope I have

How are you? I Love you! Can you give me $200 and a lot of chocolate please a dog or cat, a boy. A lot of toys can you please say hi to the elfs! Can you please give me a ipad? Can you get ﬂowers for mom a shack for my brother, a super hero for Alex my brother, a boxee for dad, and a picture of me and Fernada for Fernada. Love Emma I want a baby dog I also want a baby bird can I hace some clothes to? Can you get ﬂowers for my mom and a hat for my dad I want to get my sisters shirts and a tablet thank you Santa! Love Yaiamra How are you? I would like a tablet for Christmas. I want

a phone to! Oh can you do a faver for me? Can you get some shirts fpr my dad. A flower for my mom. A choker for my middle sister. A unicorn doll for my baby sister. Have a great time! Love Smayakimi I would like a unicorn jacket a unicorn videogame a toy peacock a fluffy wolf toy and Legos and a fluffy pet bunny Love Keilee can I have a VR head set? Can I have a small fah? Oh and is it ok if I have a go cart? Say hi to the reindeer for me? We love you Santa! Bye bye Santa From Tyler Priester I would like a race car for Christmas, balloons, silly string, legos, iphone, diamond for rock day, ipad, bike, 2 more iphones, slime and $39 please! Love Joleen Gutierrez How are you? I want a nintendo switch and Trailmakers and pokemon cards. I really want the nintendo switch. Love Colton I want Pokemon to be real. I want you to have something. I want you to have a merry christmas. Love Leyton Hello ummm...?...?...? How are you real? How do you get in the chimny? I want another phone, lego friends and clothes. Can you give me a raindeer? And a horse? I hope you have fun in the chimny but I don’t have one. Love Elizabeth My name is Gavin I have 1 dog, but one of my dog died I really want a puppy. I miss my dog. I also want books because I have baby books and legos. I want V bucks. I love you. Love Gavin I want a ipad and a iphone 12. I want a robot dog, cat, $1,000,000, a yact and a jet a dimind and gold in it. Love Matthew What I want for Christmas is a RC Car with A remote control $29000 A dog Nintendo Switch Dinosars Trampolien a toy diamond creeper from Minecraft and a stuffed animal ind dragon from Minecraft Love Carter I really want my own tablet can it wave rowblocks and Mario? Can you say hi to Rudolph can the tablet be red. I love you Santa Love Lexi I love you so much santa. I want you to write to me please please I want some pappets stuff animals a barbie dreamhouse Love Luxie I want $25,000, and a lot of Pokemon, Stare Wars, Roadblocks, a ras car with a remote. A toy robot, a zomby custom and nrfe guns. A lot. PS. Alex SANTA RITA ELEMENTARY DEAR SANTA: I’m 8 years old for crismis I want a PS5 how good are you dowin. if you are good give me a j network thank you Sincerely, Andre This is Lucas Jaciam Agostoni Acosta writing. How are you doing? How is scout doing? I have been really good this year. I am really excited for tomorrow because it is the first day of December. Thank you for all you do. This Year I want for Christmas is a nintendo switch and a RC Lamborgini and a epic roaring t-rex. I hope you get the newspaper. Sincerely, Lucas Thanks for all the toys you gave me thes yers and how are the elfs doing? Sincerely, Ethan Please give me an elf on the SHELF i will be sooooooooo HAPPY. How is Rodoof I hope rodoof ia GOOD iF He’s not I Will Be Sad if He’s not ok i Hope youR ARE ok if not I will be SAD and MeRRy CHTiSTMAS SANTA!!!!!!!!!! Sincerley, Kloe Sneed! I been good this year I wil try CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE

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to keep it and I also was asking if you could give me a elf I just wanna say merry christmas this holiday is the best I like smelling the beautiful trees how are your handsom and beautiful redear doing and for christmas can you please give me clothes for school thanks Sincerely A’llymm I hope youre ok uor elFF we cald BOTH oF THem SNOWFLAKE AND BLaZE Thay are so cuTe AND my FamiLy are good AND I LOVE YOU AND THanK you so much I LOVE Chrismas Bye Sincerely, Isis Hello i am African i am in the USA How are you doing thre is sometimes I did 2 times i brushed my without kindle telling ms santa is great so is your elfs I want a phone can you bring me? Sincerely, James Hi can I have my elf back. Haw is rod of the rander. Merry Christmas I want a card thangs but I will sid mor in a card wecs but I will tell you a cupol. A hatchimal. A surprise. thank you so much! Sincerely, Rylee C. I do not know if you no watt my name is But I am Reagan Egloff. How is Mrs. Claus I hope she is good. I have a new baby sister I did not hav her last year for Christmas I want a hover board and a PS4 and a Bike. thank you for all the hard work. Sincerely, Reagan I only want shakins and mincrat and fortninte and a gift card and a hoverbord and that is all I went for crismis Thank you but please can you bring me it how is your family doing are thay good or bad You do not have to give me the hoverbord or gift card. Sincerely, Zoey Thank you for my presents! Remember when my mom saw you? I have been good this year. May I havea hoverboard? May I have a elf? how is mris Claws doing? This Christmas can you wake me up so I can see you? You are the nicist guy in the world! I love you santa! Sincerley, Zayah How is everyone doing? I’m doing good this year. This is wet I want. 1 Baby Lego JakJak 2. Baby Yoda toy 3. elf on the shelf and that is all. By! Sincerley, Lily Hiye Setu clos how are you are doing me name is Kailynn I wut a bike vak you setu clos Sincerely Kailynn Hao ora you doein I hop tresee kums son thaek you for givign wut cind uv cocees boo you like kod you tel the toffare do you hav rom for morr tef? her is wud I like for krismis the big emen lego

SIERRAS

Sincerely, Hudson Can you ples giv my army men and lagos Santa yr a nis guy soo soo soo nis I am in the usa how is evebute dooing hav bin good this yer Sincerely, Patrick Merry Christmas Santa are you and Mrs claws ready gor Christmas? What are your reindeer’s names. How old are you? I would like a pack of dinosaur egg’s to dig out. I am 8 years old. My favorite Reindeer Is Redolph. Love, Ford Hi im excited for Christmas are you? Santa are your elfs doing good? I can put milk and cookies out for you. Santa how are lod are you. Love, Lillian are you rede for crismis? but I am to. did you No thet is crismis is all about family and frens all so gifts I love crismis! do you? I bet you do. How is clre is he good? Ok he came today he brot a gift. Have a good chrismismis Santa Claus Love, Mason H. Hi santa how old are you? I hope I get a Barbie hose for Chrismas im 7 have a merry christmas ps give my brother coal for christmas. Love, Mason Peterson how old are you? this is what I want a puppy and I will love you Love, Kylie Pike Hi um I want a m5c supris. and haw are you? I am wanbring! I hope you febe I am growing to wnt a lot. Love, Lilyana Benitez Hi!!! I love that you are nice and you are giving gift’s I hope I can get a Apple Watch for cristmas and I wish you a merry cristmas and a Happy new year!!! merry chrismas Sincerely, Jayda Hi santa are comet, prancer, vixon, cupid, donner, blitzen, dasher and rudolph doing good? How are you doing? I love Christmas! I hope you have a good Christmas! Gabrielle Padilla hi all you how are you? how loge hap it take for you to go arond the world? I hop for a camputer. I hop for it thans. Wut cid of cookies do you like Love, Finn Flanigan How are you? Are you giting ready for Christmas? I am giting ready for Christmas. Can I have a Electric scooter. Love, Austin How old you are santa closs i hope one day I git a bike this year. Love, Karin I love you. Merry christmas. thank you for my presents. See

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as a Division II school – the equivalent of Texas’ Class 5A – so that much is also similar. However, since his arrival and integration into the Panthers’ high-octane, uptempo offense, one thing that has changed is Sierras’ scoring output – something he attributes to the way he’s being employed by Boren. During his freshman season for the Big Red, Sierras debuted on the varsity midway through the campaign when the team suffered injuries and made himself a mainstay on the senior squad until his departure after his sophomore season. While there, he helped take a team that was 6-22 his freshman year to 19-10 the following season and despite the fact he has a rather humble nature about him, Sierras knows he was deﬁnitely part of the solution in turning his old team around. “I think I was a good amount of it,” he said. “I believe I’m a player who makes everyone better.” Make no mistake, though, even though Sierras plays like ‘the man,’ he certainly doesn’t carry himself like one who has a big head, said Boren. “Anthony’s not a ball hog,” he said. “He usually does something productive when he has the ball in his hands.” Like when he drives to the hoop only to be closed down by the defense.

“When that happens, I’ll look to see who to pass to,” said Sierras. “If they’re doubling me, someone else is open.” But, if the ball fails to come his way, Sierras is one to chase it down, said Boren. “Anthony’s always going to find the ball,” he said. “If it doesn’t come to him, he’s going to go get it.” Such as in the Panthers’ district opener – a 46-42 home victory over Cedar Park on Dec. 15 – when he scored a game-high 24 points, although it wasn’t his scoring numbers that caught Boren’s attention, he said. “He had nine deflections in that game and the closest other guy had five,” he said. “He’s always getting after the ball.” Or right at the outset of the contest, when teammate Kadin Knight made a steal, then passed to Sierras, who gathered the ball along the sideline near the Liberty Hill bench as it was heading out of bounds and in a single motion collected it and made a pinpoint pass to a cutting Hunter Clayton for an easy lay-up. “Anthony just has great basketball instincts,” said Boren. “You can’t teach those kinds of things.” Boren added Sierras isn’t shy when it comes to criticism from his coach. “I think the thing I like best about Anthony is you can get on him when he makes a mistake and he just says ‘Yes,

you soon. Love, Colton I hope Iv bin Good anuf can you make it snow Love, Benjamin I hope yor having a great day. Please do not mind what Crackle is saying about me. I will love tokay21 for Christmas pleas. And I whant a random switch game and can it bee one I don not hav. Love, Hudson What I want for crusmas is a xbox 5 and a new bike and some fish in a tak and a phone Love, Levi Hi santa claus my name is Addison this year I have a sister named Emma she is so cute I love your elf I wanta skateboard I love you Love, Addison Are your elfs sneky? I want a american girl doll because I c0llect thum allso ther cleshin because they are so cool. I allso what a dog B ecause they are so nice and sweet. are your elfs all red? Love, Leighton baAde What is your favorite flavor cookie! I want a stuffed Zeraora because I think it would be fun to play with. I want a real grookey because I would have someone to play when I am bored or lonely or sad. I want a dose of jo because I want to always be happy and never sad or mad. I want everyone to have a dose of joy because I want everyone to always be happy. Love, Ryan Baird What time do you go and give the presents to us. I want a hampster because I want to see what it feels like. 2. I want a harky because they are so fluffy. 3. I want a cat beause they are sooooooooooooo fluffy and soooooooooooo cute. haw do you make toys. Love, Marissa Barnett What do the reindeer eat other then carrots. I want red magic gameing phone Because I want a new phone because the phone I have is my moms phone. Love, Leon how do the raindear fly. may I please have some minecraft dungens action figures and snapships Love, Gabe dilkey How do you eat all the cookies? I wish for a hores satlpode and a camrue how old are you thanks for Jony what is the last plas you go to is rodoff reely are you in christmas chonicles wut does ms. Cllos do how old is she? Love Tagan Johnston

deer. What time do you leav the north pole. How old are you. How do you eat a lot of cookies in one night. How is miss,s Clause. I mostley want joy for christmas. I hope I have a great Christmas. I hope the same thing for you. Love, Travis Moore Wot are the raindeer do? Wot are the raindeers names? Is rutouf one wuh your ran if he is reel dus he have a red nos. Do you sleep. Can I a have elf. Love, Jeremiah Abel Pearson What do raindeer eat? I want a nerf gt with a stand bc I like them. I want a phone bc I want to play a games on it. I want a husky bc I like their fur. Love, Liam Popst Is ms Dean on the nice lisd? I want a collection of unicorn diaries because I love reading. I allso want 50 candy cains because they are yummy. I allso want a new bike because my bike is to small. Love, Naomi pruett How are the elf’s. Also how do you fit all of the toys in your bag. I want joy because I love joy. Love Weston Wagner How are you? I can’t wait until beast boy to come back. I was seeing is elsa coming back. I also want a skatebord. Because my brother has a skatebord and he does not let me use it! And to learn new flips. And the most thing I want is a lot of joy! And I hope I get a lot of presents. I have been making Christmas cards. I love Christmas. I hope you have a good christmas! Chloe Willy What does ms. Clos do with you? And I want all the dog man books its fine if you don’t bring me them. Why I won’t them is because we allmost have them. How do you eat all the cooces frome every house Santa. What does woodof eat. And I won’t a good crismis and I won’t you to have a good crismis and all I won’t for chrismis is Love. Love, Kaiseaya Santa haw mane homes do you go to? Santa my wish is to have a Iphon and a hover board and a watch. Love, Bailee Zuehike How are you? Is rudolph doing good? I know 3 things I relly want. Courtneys fufture so bright outfit and a school set and a side table with draers. I want them because i love american girl dolls and so cute. Love, Kylie

What I would like christmas is a lego police station. Solder dog books. How are you rain-

how meny elf you have santa? I in shoool I feel happy. I really good this year. I wut a toy for crismis. I like robot and big car good bey santa Love, Sebastian

Coach,’” he said. “When he messes up, he doesn’t make any excuses.” In fact, Boren said Sierras’ father recently gave him an evaluation of his son’s play thus far in a Liberty Hill uniform. “He told me Anthony has never played with so much conﬁdence like he is now,” he said. “All because of the way we move the ball around and ﬁnd the open man.” Boren said something that he interpreted as a good sign was when Sierras visited a few weeks before the family move on his way to Dallas with his select club team. “The fact he came so far to play with his team told me one thing,” he said. “He was serious about basketball.” How Sierras came about becoming a Panthers player is a story of a young athlete who was clearly committed to ensuring he landed in the right place to continue his burgeoning career, said Boren. “His dad e-mailed me back in October once they found out they were moving here and wanted to know when our tryouts were,” he said. “I told him we had already gone through with the process of selecting our team, but if his son was a player, we certainly wouldn’t deny him the opportunity.” Sierras arrived on Oct. 26 – two days before the Panthers began practice – but by then, Boren had already done his homework on the young man

who would shortly become the lynch pin of his team. “Anthony’s dad never talked about how good he was,” said Boren. “So, I called his coach there and he said to me, ‘It’s your lucky day.’” Included in Lady Luck’s gift to Boren was a season-high 29-point performance in a Liberty Hill 68-52 away victory over Connally on Nov. 24. Sierras said ever since he arrived on the scene, his new teammates have been more than welcoming to the new kid on the block. “They’ve been really open since I got here,” he said. “The school’s really nice and the basketball program here is really good.” Something else that has struck him is the overall atmosphere of his new surroundings in how it relates to the small-town feeling of community togetherness, he said. “Here, people have a lot of school spirit,” said Sierras. “There’s even a store which sells team merchandise.” But, that’s only on the exterior, with even more below the surface, he said. “People are a lot more friendly here – nobody’s in a hurry,” said Sierras. “Liberty Hill is a lot smaller town. Back in California, everything was all clumped together, where as here it’s all spread out.” Sierras began playing basketball and soccer at age six, only to give up the beautiful game

Thursday, December 24, 2020

My name is Ruby I want a elf for my house. and I love Christmas. Christmas is my favorite. And red is my favorite color. And you can see want toy I will like because you know want I want. Oh and one more think. you the best every. Love, Ruby how are you doing today? Thair will be cookys for you wating for you. I wood like a remote control jet for chrismas pleas. Love, Adrian I would want a romot car and phone 100 little car I have bin a good boy I want a intenno switch and a dog this year fot chrismasI really want a car that I can drive in it I really hope my paw paw and my teacher and some christmas jam for santa Love, Quentin I hope you are having a great day I have been very good this yaer I hope you and mrs Clause are having a grate yaer I want a Lego set that is big and hord not to hord a letel bit hord then my Lego sets I want a rocitt that goes 675 feet in the air and 203 hp can you pik me up and donot for git my brothr thanks Love, Lucas I hop you are having a great day! I have been very good I love my elf that you picked for me and my mom. This year for christmas I really want is a make up palets. I am grateful my teacher and my class too and my mom and my brothers too. And I grateful abbi Love, Ryann I hope youre having a Christmas! And kan you git me a girl dog and Im grateful for is wonderful teachers Love, Branden I have BeeN gooD. I JUST WANT A TRANSFORMERS BEAST HUNTERS OPTIMUS PRIME A VR HEADSET A SPIDER A XBOX AND I WANT TO SEE MY grAMPA AgIN Because he DieD. Love, Layne I want slapp for Chrismas. I am a good girl. I hope you have a great year at the Noth poel! and my elf is no at my hose today! I am thankful for my teacher and Family! I Love You! Love, Jaycee Postawait I hope its not cold at the North Pole how are the Raindeers and Penguins and I have been good this year I am thankful for my family and my Class I want a New hoverbord I haven’t got it yet I have been wanting since 2018 I have been wanting it so Badly and I will have Mik and Sugar cookies I hope you come and eat my sugar cookies and Milk

for hoops when he reached sixth grade for both tangible and intangible reasons. “The seasons always overlapped,” he said. “So, I’d have to miss one to do the other.” When that proposition became no longer acceptable, Si-

Love, Noelle I have been very good this year thanks for tehtall and peper I want thee things for christmas a computer and a phone and a bunny and my sister hope or instead of a bunny a pupy I do not no a pupy or bunny so it is up to the master santa closs and a LOL doll so hows’s it going whith the north ball Love, Kailey One thing I am grateful for is my home one thing I would like to get for Christmas this year Heleys that are shos that have wheels on the bodum of them. Something I want is shakey’s something I need are new Botes. Thare will be cookies a mil wantine. I am so happy that elfey shelfey came Love, Charley Cox I am excited so excited for Christmas this year! I hope you are having a good day at the North Pole? This year for Christmas a hover bord and a dog man book and a football book and I love my elf’s this year I have cookies and milk at my house for you. Love, Waylon I hope you are having a great day! Miss Claus how are you doing and santa you both are the best I rilly wunt a huferbord pleas I sdid not get one for my birthday I am thank full for my life thank you I love you both so much hope you have a great day. Love, Mia I hope you are having a speshol Christmas I have Bin a goot girl this yer this yer gogobells has bin vary nis this yer I wat a new baby and a noow Biscit Book I lobe segolbells he is the grait elf evr. Love, Piper This year I know that I have been getting some low grades but I’ve gotten most high grades and what i want for Christmas is a camra and a my elf is named Dixie. Love, Brooke I wish for a lego set and two things I’m greatful for is my family and you and Mrs. Clause thank you so much Love, Lyam. M I’ve seen that your elf’s are waching me and my brother! I want a Hot weels skyscraper Not Tall. We Love you snd Mrs. Claus. I have bin soo good and my brother has bin soo good. I hope you have a Happy crismas! Santa you are the best! My name is Daryosh! Omid. I love your elfs sooo much! Thank you for all you do! Thank you for your hard work! Love Daryosh Omid

erras switched full-time to the court and has since developed a passion for roundball due to the nature of the game. “I just love the energy – especially in close games when it’s super-intense,” said Sierras.

DONWERTH

Continued from Page B2 “Track and cross country both have my heart and after having a few amazing cross country races and a few amazing track races, I couldn’t choose one over the other,” she said. “I feel I’m best at both – cross country and track both take you to this difﬁcult part in your life where you have to overcome your fears and make a move. I always say this in my head over and over again whenever I start to feel tired, ‘The pain will be gone once you ﬁnish the race, so keep pushing.’ You’ve got to always think ‘mind over matter’ – that helps you to push yourself and acknowledge you can accomplish anything while focused.” Holt added there are many challenges to meet and adjustments to make for freshman student-athletes at the college level and having proper help to handle the rigors is critical. “She’ll have to adjust to being away from home living in a new place, new teammates, new friends and college classes – then have to manage all

that together,” she said. “But, I’m sure Baylor has a great support system for their athletes and she will adjust to college life.” Donwerth moved to Liberty Hill before her junior year and said her time in Purple-andGold has made a massive impression on her as she moves forward with her athletic and academic careers. “Being a part of the Liberty Hill community has been a great change to my life,” she said. “I’ve grown and realized how much I can do to help myself and others. Liberty Hill has changed me into the runner I am now and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities it has given me. I will never forget the ﬁrst time I made it to state my junior year and having the town show up to the race and cheering us all on. Those are the moments that have made me realize why running has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me.”